FRENCH CRISIS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22320, 3 May 1947, Page 5

FRENCH CRISIS

FUTURE AT STAKE RAMADIER’S FEAR WAGE RISE PRESSURE COMMUNIST ACTIVITY (11.15 a.m.) LONDON, May 2. Colonial revolts abroad and sudden shifts in Communist policy at home threaten to break up the French Coalition Government led by M. Paul Ramadier. Hurried Cabinet meetings and parly and inter-party conferences yesterday ended in the announcement by M. Ramadier that he would ask for a vote of coniidence in the National Assembly to-day. If he did not get is, he said he would resign. M. Ramadier put the motion of confidence this evening, but the motion will not be voted on until Sunday morning. In his appeal for a vote of confidence. M. Ramadier announced that he would be willing to reconsider the national wage policy in July. He insisted that wages must meanwhile remain fixed. He said he feared for the independence of France if the present financial situation became worse. “If you agree with me, we will continue,” he said. “If not. let others take the responsibility. I appeal to nlk The Republic's fate is at stake. (Reuter says this is interpreted as a last-minute appeal to the Communists to avoid a break-up of the Coalition.) M. Ramadier sHcl Frances international trade deficit last year was £43.750.000 and this year would be £162.500,000. Domestic difficulties would make this bad situation worse. M. Ramadier offered to concede bonuses to industries which earned them by real production increases. He recalled the Government’s four-month agreement with the French Confederation of Labour to hold wages at the present level, and commented that the agreement was two months old when the Paris Metal Workers’ Union made new wage demands.