French Repeating Error Of Third Republic

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 267, 12 November 1945, Page 5

French Repeating Error Of Third Republic

LONDON, Nov. 10. The Fourth French Bepublic appears, at least in its first days, to be repeating one of the fundamental errors of the Third Bepublic—allowing party manoeuvres to hold up the creation of a new Government, says the Daily Telegraph’s Paris correspondent. Instead of electing the head of the Government today as arranged under the law approved by the referendum, the Assembly decided by 353 votes to 53 to postpone the decision until Tuesday. The Communists abstained from voting. Their spokesman (Mr. Duclos) pointed out that the party opposed the law necessitating the immediate election of a new head of the Government. It therefore disclaimed responsibility for the difficulties now apparent. The Socialists and Popular Republicans carried the postponement against strong opposition from the Conservatives and Radical Socialists. The argument was “programme first" before electing General de Gaulle. The Left parties, including the Popular Republicans, wish to present him with a general outline of policy. The new President of the Assembly (M. Gouin), in his first speech, warned against reverting to party politics. “It would be of no use to have reconquered freedom and rebuilt Democracy if we drew no lessons from this terrible experience through which we have Just passed," he said.