POLICY SPEECH TO ASSEMBLY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25090, 23 January 1947, Page 7

POLICY SPEECH TO ASSEMBLY

FRENCH PREMIERDESIGNATE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE PASSED ' (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) PARIS, Jan. 21. The French Prime Minister-desig-nate (Mr Ramadier). in a policy speech seeking a vote of confidence, called on the National Assembly for “severe discipline of the parties.” He was determined to save the franc, increase production, balance the Budget, maintain peace within the French Union, and assure the country’s security within the framework of the United Nations. Mr Ramadier, referring to relations with Britain, said that his Government, if formed, would never enter a bloc aiming at hegemony for aggression.

“We want loyal agreements,” he said. “This consideration guided General de Gaulle and Mr Bidault in Moscow and Mr Blum in London. We do not intend to inhumanly oppress •the Germans, but only to insure ourselves against new aggression and guarantee to France due reparations, particularly coal.” Mr Ramadier declared that the Indo-Chinese situation was developing favourably. A bitter battle, was raging to lift “the atrocious siege of Hanoi ” The French would end the fighting only when they had ensured order and security. • Mr Ramadier told the Assembly that the Government would re-establish the full freedom of the French press from March 1 by abolishing the decree, in force since the liberation, which prohibited the publication of new newspapers without the Government’s authority. The Assembly passed a vote of confidence in Mr Ramadier by 577 votes to 10.