DE GAULLE THREATENS TO RESIGN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 199, 23 August 1945, Page 5

DE GAULLE THREATENS TO RESIGN

STORMY CABINET MEETING

London, Aug. 20 General de Gaulle, who has left by air on a visit to President Truman,

threatened during the week-end to cancel the trip, reports a Daily Express correspondent in Paris. Heated Cabinet discussions ended in his agreeing to defer a decision to resign until after his return from Washington. The arguments of M. Palewski—unpopular, but powerful. confidential adviser to de Gauilv- -<n.l C? Crulle'a patience resolved the crisis winch waj reached when Socialist Ministers threatened to resign after recent differences over de Gaulle’s home and foreign policies. M. M. Bidault and Palewski arc accompanying General de Gaulle to Washington. General de Gaulle, angry and disheartened, wondered whether he could find enough backing in order to continue. He would gladly have resigned, but he believed he would leave France floundering, without a constitution or a chief of Slate. He asked his critics angnly how ho could be expected to negotiate with President Truman if Fiance openly bickered and questioned his authority. The Socialist Ministers decided not to resign because it would weaken their election chances. M. Palewski pleaded for patience and urged that the critics did not represent the mass of the French people. He declared that the October elections would give the answer.