Calls For French Truce

Northern Advocate, 27 June 1946, Page 5

Calls For French Truce

ißec. 1.0 p.m.) PARIS, June 26. In a speech to the Assembly, M. Bidault called for a truce between parties while an important international conference was being held in Paris and the new French Constitution was still unwritten.

The Government, realising its duty to end as quickly as possible France’s uncertainties, would strive to ensure the establishment of a definite regime by the end of October. Until then the Government did not intend to take measures committing future generations.

M. Bidault expressed the gratitude of the Government and the nation to General de Gaulle, the "true interpreter cf resistance, who is not with us today.” He said the trade union claim for increased wages was among the most urgent tasks and only "national poverty” imposed the hard necessity of not doing all that might legitimately be hoped for the working class. FRIENDSHIP WITH ALLIES Envisaging a gradual relaxation of rationing, M. Bidault declared that excessive control paralysed trade and resulted in black marketing. The Government intended shortly calling an economic conference to study the lowering of price levels, and promised efforts to reform Government finances, but the 'short time allotted to the Government prevented an extensive reform or a nationalisation programme.

Foreign policy would be dictated by considerations of French security and determination to eliminate aggressive elements throughout the world. "We will maintain our friendship and alliance with the great nations who accompanied us in the struggle to victory," he said.

Deputies voted by 517 votes to 4 confidence in Ihe new Government, one of the biggest majorities ever given a new cabinet.

Nevertheless M. Bidault still was unable to reach agreement with delegates to the- Trade Unions Confederation during his meeting with them today on the Confederation’s claim for an immediate increase of 25 per cent in wages, instead of M. Bidault’s 15 per cent offer.