FRANCE'S FUTURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25346, 30 October 1945, Page 5

FRANCE'S FUTURE

DIVIDED PARTY VIEWS FOREIGN POLICY DIFFERS WESTERN, BLOC ISSUES (X.Z.P.A. Special Corres|>ondenl) (Reed. O.rtO p.m.) LOXDOX, Oct. •_»» "What type of coalition will be formed, who will General de Gaulle invite to make a Cabinet, and what will be her future foreign policy !" These are the three main political questions at present being asked in France. Nobody doubts that General tie, Giuille will by elected President and asked to form a Cabinet,, but this would not be easy, for although the main parties—the Communists, the Socialists and the Popular Republicans—have reallirmed their adhesion to the programme ot national resistance, there are sharp differences between them and differing attitudes toward General de Gaulle. They also differ on foreign policy.

With or Subservient to Russia? Briefly, the division of opinion is (as the newspaper 1/Aurore said): "Is it to he alliance with, or obedience to Russia!' Is it to be anarchy or western regrouping!''' The Socialists and the Popular Republicans favour closer association in the west, while the Communists fight it savagely. It is this question of foreign policy which, together with industrial policy, divides the parties. Neither is mentioned in the programme of the National Resistance Council. Savage attacks have boon made on the Popular Republican Party by the Communists, and there has, of course, been a long conflict in the past between General de, Gaulle himsell and the Communists in Algiers about whether the party could simply delegate Ministers to represent them in the Government without consulting the General. Although this ended in a compromise, General de Gaulle's views have not changed. De Gaulle's Likely Choice It is believed, however, that the General will seek to form a Government of men in whom he has personal confidence, with the parties approximately represented according to their strength at the polls. At the same time it is certain that he would not accept dictation from the Communists on matters of foreign policy. While problems of Cabinet-making are being discussed in Paris, conversations are proceeding in London in an endeavour to promote closer understanding and co-operation between Britain and France. It is reported that they are taking a satisfactory trend and are at present confined to the exchange of views and information among officials. . The Foreign Minister. Mr Bevin, also bad a general talk with the 1' ronch Ambassador to London, M. Rene Masof the proposals for the Ruhr and the Rhmelnnd is believed to be in progress, one of tliP subjects of the French proposal being that the Ruhr industrial area should be under wider Allied control and that the Rhineland should become a permanent zone of Allied security.