FRENCH COALITION

Evening Star, Issue 25700, 25 January 1946, Page 6

FRENCH COALITION

MAIN PARTIES AGREE NOT A TRUCE; AGREEMENT TO BE POLITE (Rec, 1.5 p.m.) PARIS, Jan. 24. The three main parties in France jointly announced that they have agreed to form a Coalition Government, thus clearing the way for M. Gouin to proceed with the selection of Ministers. The statement gives the programme for the Coalition, including a call for immediate application of the Constituent Assembly's vote that France should act alone, if necessary, in breaking relations with the Franco Government in Spain. The Associated Press correspondent in Paris says the agreement followed four days' negotiations in_ which party delegates threshed out points of difference, notably on the Constitution, with the Socialists, the Communists favouring the one-chamber system against the two-chamber advocated by M.R.P. The joint statement declares that the parties affirm the necessity _of avoiding all politics of an offensive or injurious character in oral or written controversies. Reuter's correspondent says the main points of the programme on which the parties have agreed are:— First, the measures already approved by the Coalition under General de Gaulle, such as the nationalisation of electricity and gas. Secondly, making an inventory of Fr.ance 1 s resources and present needs defining the programme of nationalisation. Thirdly, carrying into effect measures already voted by_ the Asembly, such as the nationalisation of hanks. ■ Fourthly, reform of the Civil Service, with the abolition of unnecessary posts. The correspondent adds that the agreement does not quite mean that tllere will be a party truce, but it does mean that the parties have agreed to be polite.