NEW FRENCH REGIME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26132, 20 April 1946, Page 7

NEW FRENCH REGIME

DEBATE IN THE ASSEMBLY CATHOLICS WALK OUT (Rec. 8 p.m.) PARIS, Apl. 19. President Gouin intervened in the Assembly debate on the French Constitution to-day and appealed for unity. He announced that he personally intended campaigning in favour of the Constitution. The Socialists and Communists rose and sang “ The Marseillaise ” when President Gouin concluded. Before President Gouin spoke the Assembly defeated Popular Republican Movement amendments to the Constitution. A Popular Republican Movement deputy, M. Francois de Menthon. who was Minister of Justice under General de Gaulle, replying to President Gouin, said: “ We shall never accept a Constitution which risks involving us in an assemby regime. Those who want to vote for this Constitution have no monopoly in patriotism or republicanism.” Thunderous applause from Catholic, Radical, and Right-wing deputies greeted these words, and something like chaos reigned for five minutes as cries and counter-cries prevented M. Menthon from continuing his speech. When order was restored M. Menthon added: “We still hope to be able to vote for the Constitution, provided every risk of Government by Assembly is definitely eliminated.” The members of the Popular Republican Movement walked out of the French Constituent Assembly late this afternoon, reports the Paris correspondent of the Associated Press. .This gesture resulted from the collapse of long negotiations within the Assembly Committee which is drafting the new Constitution. The committee discussed the disputed points for most of last night and this morning. The Socialist-Communist bloc carried the presidential election proposals. defeating the Popular Republican Movement amendments, which would have given the French Empire Council. an equal voice with the Assembly in the selection of the future chief of State. The Social-ist-Communist plan is to have the President named by a majority of a single house legislature.