Prime Minister Of France Throws in His Hand

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 15099, 6 October 1949, Page 3

Prime Minister Of France Throws in His Hand

M. Queuille Determined To Resign Unpopular Policy Of Freezing Wages (Rec. 8.15 a.m.) London, Oct. 5. The French Prime Minister (M. Queuille) today offered his resignation to President AurioL The President said he would tell him tomorrow whether he would accept it. A Paris correspondent comments that there is every reason to believe that even if the president refuses to accept his resignation, M. Queuille is now determined to go. The French Parliament —now in

recces—is to be called together again on Saturday, that is 10 days before the date originally fixed. The correspondent says that after explaining his atttitude, M. Queuille will probably throw in his hand without even calling for a debate, let alone a vote. At a meeting with his Coalition Cabinet earlier today M. QueuiJle told his colleagues that he must give up trying to arbitrate on a disagreement among them on wages and prices. This disagreement had been brought to a head by the recent devaluation of the franc. The main cause of the trouble, the correspondent says, is the renewed opposition from the Socialists, who form part of the Government Coalition, to M. Queuille's policy of "freezing" wages, apart from the certain concession to the lowestpaid workers. The Socialists at first gave way but, during the past few days, strong pressure, irom both the Socialist Party executive and the unions, has made the Sccialists unwilling or unable to compromise. M. Queuille is Radical and his Government included the M.R.P. — or Christian Democrats—and other groups, as well as the Radicals and Socialists. It has been in office for just under 13 months —the longest term for any French Government since the war.