FRENCH CABINET

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 April 1946, Page 5

FRENCH CABINET

AWAITING DECISION ON CONSTITUTION BILL FUTURE OF_COALITION (Rec. 11 a.m.) PARIS, April 19. The French Cabinet has decided to take no decision about future relations between the three parties in the Coalition Government until the result of the final vote on the Constitution Bill becomes known. The Minister of Information, M. de Ferre, said: “I have by no means abandoned hope that agreement can be reached between the three parties on the Constitution Bill.” President Gouin intervened in the Assembly debate on the French constitution to-day and appealed for unity. He announced that he personally intended campaigning in favour of the constitution. The Socialists and Communists rose and sang “La Marsellaise” when President Gouin concluded. Before M. Gouin spoke, the Assembly defeated M.R.P. (Catholic Party) amendments to the constitution.

An M.R.P. deputy, M. Francois de Menthon, who was Minister of Justice under General de Gaulle, in replying to M. Gouin, said: “We shall never accept a constitution which risks involving us in an Assembly regime. Those who want to vote for this constitution have no monopoly in patriotism and republicanism.” ■ Thunderous applause from the Catholic, Radical, and Right Wing deputies greeted these words. Something like chaos reigned for five minutes as cries and counter-cries prevented M. Menthon from continuing his speech. When order was restored, M. Menthon added: “We still hope to be able to vote for the constitution, provided every risk of government by the Assembly is definitely eliminated.”