FRANCE’S PRIME MINISTER

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25589, 2 September 1948, Page 5

FRANCE’S PRIME MINISTER

ASSEMBLY APPROVES MR SCHUMAN 11 VOTES OVER REQUIRED MAJORITY PARIS, August 31. The National Assembly to-night apS roved Mr Robert Schuman as Prime linister. Mr Schuman received 322 votes, 11 more than the required majority. A total of 185 voted against Earlier in the evening Mr Schuman appeared before the Assembly to ask for a vote of confidence. “The liberty of liberated France is at stake,” he said. France’s economic situation was grave, but there was no cause for panic. His Government would continue actively to support a parliament of Europe. Steps must be taken to cave the fra .c and ward off inflation. He agreed to a reduction of the civil service, and said the military budget must be smaller. Taxation would be levied to meet a big Budget deficit. Mr Schuman spoke of what he called the scandal of the price of meat—23 times higher than in 1938. He did not think the problem of the cost of living could be dealt with by raising wages, but he said he was ready to make some concessions in that direction. In the debate that followed the Communist leader made a bitter attack on Mr Schuman and the coalition parties. He said they were out to subordinate France to the interests of Britain and America. Mr Leon Jouhaux. president of the ’Federation of Non-Communist Trade Unions, whom Mr Schuman visited before going to the National Assembly, said: “I told Mr Schuman that the situation, owing to increased production, is in no way catastronhic, but circumstances call for an improvement in the workers’ situation.” Mr Jouhaux hinted that if there was not an appreciable improvement in workers’ living conditions, insurmountable difficulties would be encountered.