MOCH ELECTED PREMIER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27212, 15 October 1949, Page 7

MOCH ELECTED PREMIER

French Socialist Leader Receives Low Vote 01 Approval WILD SCENES IN HOUSE New Zealand Press Association—Copyright Rec. 11.58 p.m. PARIS, Oct. 14.. , The French Socialist Party’s “ strong man,” M. Jules Moch, was elected Prime Minister of France by 311 votes to 223 out of a total voting pool of 534 deputies. M. Moch, in obtaining one vote above the necessary constitutional majority, received the lowest vote of approval ever given to an incoming Prime Minister in post-war France. The result of the vote was announced at 5 a.m. after a tumultuous two-hour argument over the validity of two votes that had been cast by two deputies in absentia. The Communists’ deep hatred of M. Moch, who firmly broke then* 1948 strikes, caused them to use every man’s obstruction as, the validity of the disputed votes was debated.

During the debate, Communists called out “ Crook, assassin, forger ” as the Assembly’s President, M. Herriot, read the official result of the voting. M. Herriot’s voice could scarcely be heard above the Communist Deputies’ shouts and their banging of seats and desks. M. Herriot replied to the Communist outbursts by suspending the session for two hours before recalling it and finally reading the result. Several Communist deputies spat in the faces of their opponents after the Chamber had broken up in general uproar. The President, as he angrily stalked from the Chamber, shouted at the Communists: “You are a crowd of hooligans.’’ While M. Moch pleaded for his programme, hundreds of armed police formed a powerful cordon around the Assembly building as a precaution against demonstrations. The Assembly exploded into a 10minute uproar at one stage when M. Jacques Duclos, the Communist spokesman, delivered a violent personal attack on M. Moch. . Yelling “Murderer and/assassin,” M. Duclos read the names of Communist workers killed in the 1948 French strike during which M. Moch, as Interior Minister, had called out the troops. , . ' M. Moch declared in his speech: “France wants to be governed. The man in the street hopes that within the framework of democracy order will reign and authority will be exercised. That is what we hope to achieve with a strong team of determined, energetic men.” , . M. Moch announced three plans for improving purchasing power. _ 1. Energetic steps to slash prices of food dnd other big items in the French workers’ budget. 2. A retutn to free collective bargaining over work conditions, between employers and trade unions without. Government intervention. 3. A special bonus of more than 3000 francs for this month only for workers earning less than 15.000 francs to bring such workers up to the 15,000-franc level. „ , , M. Moch assured, the House that he would make no change in France’s foreign policy. ...... Promising a balanced budget, M. Moch said: “It must be balanced by the sacrifices of all and not only a few. ’ He promised that there would be “ harsh slashes " in State expenditure. M. Moch closed his speech to loud applause from his fellow Socialists, moderate cheers from the Popular Republican benches, and scattered applause from the Centre. Radical. Independent and Moderate Right Wing benches.

M. Moch, with the Assembly's approval, is' now free to form a new Government to succeed Dr Henri Queuille’s Administration, which existed for, the record post-war period for F ran ce of 1 year 26 days. M. Moch, seeking support in the Chamber last night for his proposed Government, maae deputies gasp with a plan which no would-be Premier of France has ever dared to make before. M. Moch said that Frenchmen must pay their taxes. If he became Premier he would see that, they did. He added that it was inexcusable that Frenchmen should cheat the State out of thousands of millions of francs every year. ( Lawyer, naval engineer, mathematician, resistance leader, pilot, painter and special policeman, Jules Moch is now able to add Premier of France to his list of occupations. M. Moch served in the First World War as an officer of the engineers, and fought as an engineer officer in the French Navy in the Second World War. He trained as an engineer at a French polytechnic school, and between wars managed private industrial projects in France and , the Baltic States. % M. Moch has been married for 32 years to Germaine Picard, who was one of the first women ever admitted to the French Bar., She is now his principal private secretary.