France Again Faces Cabinet Trouble

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28270, 7 May 1957, Page 14

France Again Faces Cabinet Trouble

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 9 p.m.)

PARIS, May 5.

Political obervers forecast new difficulties for France’s Socialist-led Government of Mr Guy Mollet today after the tumultuous two-day congress of Mr Pierre MendesFrance’s Radical Party.

An immediate crisis in the Cabinet was averted when the congress, in an eleventh-hour compromise, last night prevented the collective resignations of the 12 Radical Ministers and a new major split in the Radical ranks.

The compromise came from Mr MendesFrance himself, after a speech denouncing the Mollet Government’s policy in Algeria in terms which seemed to make any conciliation between the pro-Government and the anti-Government factions in the party appear impossible.

Fears of a new Radical split were believed responsible for the former Prime Minister's last minute “retreat.” -•

A Right-wing minority who favoured a “tough” line in Algeria broke away and formed a rival party last October.

The Radical Ministers were ordered by the ■ new resolution to seek definite policies from the Government without delay on a basic modification of the Algerian policy.