RAMADIER INVITED TO FORM CABINET : MARIE’S MINISTRY OUT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22729, 30 August 1948, Page 5

RAMADIER INVITED TO FORM CABINET : MARIE’S MINISTRY OUT

(N.Z.P.A.—Reuter— Ooryrlght.)

(11.30 a.m.) LONDON, August 29. The French President, M. Auriol, continued his talks all day with political party leaders on the formation of a new Government. He received M, Marie and M. Ramadier.

M. Ramadier is conferring with his Socialist colleagues before giving M. Auriol a definite reply to the invitation to form a Cabinet.

The Paris newspapers almost unanimously predict that M. Ramadier will not be able to muster the necessary 309 votes in the Assembly.

The British United Press correspondent in Paris says the Radical Socialists announced that they would support M. Ramadier in forming a new Cabinet. The British United Press correspondent quotes M. Ramadier, upon leaving M. Auriol. as saying: "France is in very grave danger. We must have courage to demand sacrifice from every Frenchman equally if we are to find economic and political stability. Strong-Action Government Needed "We need a strong-action Government with complete authority and a steady majority behind it. I will consult Parliamentary groups and if I find goodwill and a desire to accept the combined effort I would be willing to try.” The correspondent says that political observers interpret M. Ramadier’s reference to the combined effort as meaning a Communist-Socialist coalition.” M. Marie’s moth-old Cabinet fell after four meetings in 24 hours at which members struggled to agree over financial reforms proposed by the Minister of Finance, M. Reynaud, which included the upward revision of food prices and the "axeing” of the civil service. !

M. Marie, jn a statement, said he had resigned because certain differences within the Cabinet “could not be eliminated although an agreement had been reached at an earlier phase of the discussions.” Observers believe that with the fall of the tenth Government since her liberation, France faces her most severe post-war political test. It is being asked who was there left for M. Auriol to chose as M. Marie’s successor. Speculation arose about the possibility of tlv Assembly being disolved and new elections held —which is just what General De Gaulle has been urging for months. Opposition to High Wages

It is understood that the Government fell because M. Reynaud coula not accept the new high level of wages which the Popular Republican and Socialist Ministers demanded. The British United Press Correspondent in Paris says that M. Auriol met

the party representatives within a few hours of the Marie Government’s fall in a bid quickly to resolve France’s new crisis. The French Communist Party issued a statement calling for a “democratic union”. This is regarded as an appeal for a Government of Communists and Socialists, but the Socialists are unlikely to agree. General De Gaulle’s supporters are still ominously quiet, but the Radical newspaper L’Aurore, came out with a banner headline "call for De Gaulle before we crash”. Quick Solution Sought Well-informed French political circles understand that M. Auriol is anxious to form a new Government with the utmost urgency • not only because of the need for France's voice in international negotiations regarding Germany, but also because France’s home problems required the quickest possible solution, says Reuter’s correspondent in Paris. It is believed that M. Auriol hopes the Premier-designate will present himself before the National Assembly on Tuesday. Political observers are more and more inclined to ask whether this crisis did not imply the impossibility of any man or any party forming a Cabinet being able to secure a stable majority in the Assembly. There is a possibility of the National Assembly recognising such a deadlock and voting for its own dissolution and consequent general election. Fear of De Gaulle’s Success

Fear of General De Gaulle “sweeping the board” i n a general election would be the main factor preventing such a decision. The British United Press correspondent in Paris says that associates of General De Gaulle said that General De Gaulle, spurred by the downfall ot M. Marie’s Government, would unleash shortly an all-out campaign for his return to power. They added that General De Gaulle is convinced that now is the time to make the bjd and expected he would issue a statement denouncing the present regime and demanding the dissolution of the National Assembly and the holding of general elections.

The Radicals bitterly resent the Socialist action in breaking up M. Marie’s Cabinet. The Radical Minister of Education in M Marie’s Cabinet, M. Yvon Delbos, said: “We shall not forget the attitude of the Socialist Ministers. We shall not agree to join any interim Government or Government of reconciliation.” If the Radicals maintain this attitude, the formation of “third force”, a Government with a majority in the Assembly will be impossible. Socialists’ Objection* The Associated Press correspondent says the Socialists explained that they had brought about the crisis “to avoid encouraging the worker to strike action which would fatally have been exploited by the Communists for political ends”. The Socialists also found that M. Reynaud’s proposal to raise wages 10 per cent was insufficient to cover the cost of living which has risen 16 per cent. Reuter’s correspondent says it is learned that the Popular Republican group considered a Socialist should try to form a new Cabinet since the Socialists brought about the fall of the last two Cabinets.