MOCH IS NEW PREMIER

Chronicle (Levin), 15 October 1949, Page 5

MOCH IS NEW PREMIER

' 'N.Z.P.A,

— Reuter.

French Gommunists Stage Wild Scenes

CopyriQht)

Eeceived Saturday, 10.20 mm. PARIS, Ooti 14, The French SocialiSt Party'S ' * strong man," Jiilfes Mpch, wad eiectCd Pfime 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 necess&ry constitutional majority, f CeCivpd the lQwest vote of apptovai ever given to an incpmifig Prime Minister in postwar France. Tlie result of the vote was announced at 5 a.m. after a tumultuous twe-hPUr- argumeftt over the yalidity of two votes that had been'cast by two deputies in absentih, 5 The Communists ' deep hatred of Moch, who firmly bioke their 1948 strikes, caused them to Use every means of obstruction. As the validity of the disputed votes waS debated the Communists called outl "Orook! AssassinJ Forger! " As the Assembly's President, M. Edouard Herriot, read the ofiicial result of the vot-' ing his voice could sfeftrcely be heard' above the Commtinist deputies' shouts and their bangiug of seats and deska, M. Herriot replied to the Communist outbursts by suSpending the session for two hours before recallifig it and finally reading the result. Several Communist deputies spat in the faces of opponents after the Chamber had broken up in a general uproaf. The President as he angrily stalked from the Chamber shouted at the Communists: "You are a crowd of hooligans! " M. Moch, with the Assembly's approval, is now free to form a new Government to succeed M. Queuille's administration which existed for a record postwar period for Pranco of one year 26 days. Seeking support in the Chamber last night for his proposed Government M. Moch made the deputies gasp with a plan which no would-be Premier of , France ever daTed to make before. He said Frenehmen must pay their taxei. If he beeame Premier he would see that they did. He added: "It is inexeusable that Frenehmen should cheat the State out of thousands of millions of francs every year," Lawyer, naval enginener, mathematician, resistance leader, pilot, Sundav painter, and special policeman, .lules Moch is now able to add Premier of France to his list of oeeupations. He served in the First World War as an officer of engineers, and fought as an engineer officer in the Freneh Navy in the Second World War. He trained as an engineer at the French Polyteehnic School and between the wars managed private industrial projects in France and the Baltie 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 prineipal private secretary.