FRENCH MINISTRY MAY FALL ON HIGHER PAY RISE ISSUE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23288, 24 June 1950, Page 5

FRENCH MINISTRY MAY FALL ON HIGHER PAY RISE ISSUE

(N.Z.P.A.—Reuter— Copyright.)

(10.45 a.m.) PARIS, June 23. The ninc-months-old French Cabinet —the eleventh since the liberation—is regarded by most French observers as practically certain to fall tomorrow.

The Assembly will vote tomor-* row morning on a confidence motion that the Premier, M. Bidault, sought yesterday after the Assembly refused by 351 voles to 201 to support _ Government opposition to a Socialist bill to raise civil servants’ salaries.

Socialist deputies today announced they would vote against the motion of confidence “unless the _ Government made some new proposal” during the continuing efforts between the parties to reach a compromise. A change in Government might have repercussions on the coal and steel merger talks in Paris. . Constitutionally the Government is forced to resign if 311 deputies actually vote against it. If the Government loses tomorrow by a lesser majority, M. Bidault may demand a full debate on general policy on Tuesday and stand or fall by another confidence vote to be taken on the broad issues of his programme rather than on the narrow issue of adjusting civil servants rates of pay- , _ , , A substantial number of Centre and Right-wing deputies who voted against the Government yesterday were, in fact, voting against the Schuman Plan. There is a movement in the Assembly against the Foreign Minister, M. Schuman, who has also aroused opposition over what moderate and conservative groups regard as inept handling of the position in Tunisia and in the matter of former Italian colonies in North Africa. Observers think that whatever the next Government the six-Power talks will continue but some ot the driving lorce behind the French delegation may be taken out of them.