FRENCH POLICY MAHERS

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24624, 21 July 1945, Page 7

FRENCH POLICY MAHERS

De Gaulle’s Plan For Future RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN (Special Correspondent N.ZJ*A.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 19. Little change has been noted here recently regarding British and French relations. The French, it seems, are still hopeful that some form of direct negotiations will result following the removal of their special troops from the Levant and Syria, but apparently the Governments of these countries refuse direct negotiations with France until all French troops are withdrawn, certain common interests returned, and the French Delegate-General given the status of a Minister. Latterly France has been somewhat preoccupied with General de Gaulle’s plan for a referendum on the new Constitution. This plan provides for an election in October and a referendum. By the referendum the nation will be asked to say whether the Assembly about to be elected shall be a Constituent Assembly. If the nation answers in the negative France will return to the Constitution of 1875, the Assembly to be elected will be a Chamber of Deputies, and a Senate will also be elected. If the nation answers in the affirmative the Constituent Assembly will appoint the head of the Provisional Government, who will choose Ministers to be responsible to him alone. Besides drafting the Constitution the Assembly will have some control over the Budget, over foreign treaties, and over structural changes.' The Constitution must be drafted in seven months and will then be submitted to the judgment of the nation in a second referendum. All sections of the National Consultative Assembly have shown hostility to General de Gaulle’s plan. The Assembly’s commission for state reform, representing all parties, has unanimously referred the Government's bill back for further consideration. France, with Britain, is concerned in ending the unilateral action taken by General Franco in Tangier in 1941, but discussions on this have been postponed by Russia’s desire to participate. It is thought likely that Mr Churchill and Mr Stalin will discuss this point at Potsdam. Prance is also engrossed in Algeria, where Moslem nationalist risings in May resulted in disorder. Even now order is not completely restored.