GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25933, 13 October 1949, Page 5

GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE

MR MOCH AGREES TO FORM CABINET ASSEMBLY’S APPROVAL IN DOUBT (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) PARIS. October 12. Mr Jules Moch, the Socialist Minister of the Interior in the Queuille Cabinet, last night agreed to form France’s thirteenth Government since the liberation'. In the last five days of intensive conferences, Mr Moch has won the full support of his own party, which holds 99 seats in the National Assembly, and the Popular Renublicans, who hold 150 seats, for a compromise on the wagesprices problem which brought down the last coalition. Mr Moch needs 311 votes in the Assembly to get a mandate to form a Government. Political observers doubt whether he will receive a mandate. Parliament is not expected to meet until to-morrow. Aged 56, Mr Moch takes over the French leadership with a long political career behind him. He was first elected to the National Assembly in 1928. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in the Marines and took part in the Norway campaign. When France surrendered he was one of the 80 members of the French Parliament who voted against giving Marshal Petain full powers. Shortly afterwards he was arrested. He was released in 1941 and helped to organ - ise the French underground movement. In 1943 he joined General de Gaulle's forces in London and fought with the Free French Navy in the Mediterranean. After the war he gained fame chiefly for his vigorous policy against the Communists in 1947 and 1948. The Right-Wing “Paris-Presse” today gives Mr Moch a recipe for success. It says 'hat his only hope of founding a durable Administration lies in: (1) dropping doctrinaire Socialism; (2) slashing State extravagance; and (3) telling the French people hard facts about France’s financial position. “L’Aube” says: “The man who tomorrow takes on the heavy task of leading the Government must be a man capable of imposing heavy sacrifices on the nation. Whether they be taxpayers, workmen, or workless, the French are also men perfectly willing to understand so long as they are clearly told what is expected of them.” The Left-Wing “Franc-Tircur” is pessimistic. It says: “If Mr Moch receives an Assembly majority, which is by no means -sure, the Ministerial crisis will have been solved, but the social crisis will continue as bitterly as ever.’’