SEARCH FOR SUCCESSOR

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27375, 14 June 1954, Page 9

SEARCH FOR SUCCESSOR

President Sees Party Leaders

(Rec. 11.30 p.m.) PARIS. June 13. The French President (Mr Rene Coty) was today continuing his efforts to find a successor to the government which though technically still in being, was actually dead on its feet. He had given himself 48 hours to decide whether to accept the resignation of the Prime Minister (Mr Joseph Laniel) in the twentieth cabinet crisis since the liberation. The President's programme today included a long list of interviews with Parliamentary leaders, starting with the Radicals, Mr Yvon Delbos and Senator Henri Borgeaud and ending with the Gaullists, Mr Jacques ChabanDelams and Senator Michel Debre. Last night. Mr Charles Lussy, leader of the Socialist Parliamentary group saw President Coty and was asked if his party was prepared to participate in a new coalition. Mr Lussy told Mr Coty that that was not possible because of the composition of the present Government and the foreign and domestic policies of other groups which the Socialists opposed. Mr Lussy told reporters that the President said he was hoping to solve the crisis as soon as possible. Among politicians tipped as possible

successors to Mr Laniel are two Radicals. Messrs Edgar Faure and a former Premier. Rene Mayer, and two Conservatives, the Minister of Overseas Territories (Mr Louis Jacquinot) and the Transport Minister (Mr Jacques Cahstelian). Political quarters believe Mr Bidault will very likely remain Foreign Minister since the majority of Parliament feels that any other Foreign Minister could have hardly done better in Geneva, but the Defence Minister (Mr Rene Pleven) is likely to disappear as he has been closely identified with French reverse; in Indo-China.

In the House yesterday, a Gaullist, Genera] Joseph de Goilard de Monsabert. in a violent attack, called for Mr Pleven’s immediate resignation. “You no longer have the confidence of the Army. You do not even have the support of the Army. You must go. If you go, the political atmosphere may perhaps be improved.” Loud applause from Right-wing benches punctuated his remarks.