UNMISTAKABLE REVIVAL

Evening Star, Issue 25617, 18 October 1945, Page 5

UNMISTAKABLE REVIVAL

FRANCE RISING AGAIN ECONOMIC LIFE ON UPGRADE (Rec. 1.15 p.m.) PARIS, Oct. 17. " The Government and I are preparing to give back to the nation's representatives the exceptional powers which I have- -wielded since June 18, 1940, in the name of the Republic " said General de Gaulle in a pre-election ■broadcast. He added that the Germans extorted from France 423,000,000 francs daily, emptied it of a great part of its. machinery, a large portion of the live' stock, and all reserve stocks. " A year ago," he said, " we were in a really pitiful state. We had to embark on the extremely arduous, complicated task of putting France in order again, restarting production and revising prices and wages. Ido not claim that everything has been done perfectly. " I know better than anyone else what gaps remain. I know all the adjustments which are still to be made, but it is a fact that our economic life is recovering, that food supplies are improving, ships arriving, foreign trade beginning to develop, and restrictions disappearing from our life. " I know there are people who predict a collapse of our economy, but despite their prophecies the revival is • unmistakable. Others discuss the possibility of France being deprived of the fruits of victory. The facts are that we are establishing ourselves on the Rhine. We are retaking our place as a Great Power at the diplomatic table. We have now reached the third phase of France's struggle—the 6tage of rehabilitation." France and _ her colonies, excepting Indo-China, will in the elections elect 592 delegates, and will simultaneously decide by referendum if the delegates are to form a Constituent Assembly, which will be all-powerful, or elect a provisional Government with full execu- * tive powers. ' *