Decline Of French Reds And De Gaullists

Chronicle (Levin), 2 November 1949, Page 5

Decline Of French Reds And De Gaullists

( N.Z.P.A .

— Reuter.

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iioceived ruesuay S.oU p.m. LONDON, Nov. 1. Discussing the question why France took so long to liud a new Govei'nment tlu* Paris i-orrespondent of the Uai ly Teli'grajili says that if an attempt were made to eut away the mass of intrigue, personal animosity, recriinina tions and mutual mistrust which dragged out the reeent crisis, it inay weii he found that the underJying reason lay in the deoline in the fortunes of the de Guullist and Coniinunist movements. The eorre.spondent says that though last year the very existence of the Fourth Hepuhlie was threatened by de ; Gaulle's liaiiy of the French People! on the Riglit iind by the (.'oininunists on the Left, today t'ue iniinediate importanoe of hoth ptirties has diininished coiisiderabiy. Une of the most remarkabie features of the political crisis through which France has just passed, he savs, is that de Gaulle and his inoveinent received hardly any direct consideration in the negotiations behind the scenes — a thing which wottid have been unthinkable a year ago. Whether they Jike it or not, even the most fervent supporters of the General inust adinit that 011 a national busis the nnneinent has lost strength. The Conununists have also lost pow er in tlie past year though the loss is frequently exaggerated, says the correspondent. Their strongholds, such a.t he industrial sulmrhs of Paris, have. tnain.tained their strength almost mtac. though there niav have been losses in the less industrial provincial areas. The loss, however, may chiefly be explaiued by defections among fellow -travell ers. Many of these have abandoned their support of the Conimunists as a lvsiilt ot the events in Eastern Europe. The Papal ex-eoiiiniunicat ion of tliosv hel])ing Communism has also caused in anv of the Christian Progressives to withdraw the unqualiJied support they Litherto gave to the Conimunists. The correspondent continues that the Radieals, elated by the de Gaullist setliaek, worked during the crisis tor a coalition Government under M. Queuille despite his seeming reluctanee to resnme jiower. which would vote a budget aml alter tlie eleetoral laws to permit new elections iu which proportional rejuesentation would be abolished except in tlie large cities. The Hocialist Party executive, encouraged by the apparent weakening - of Ihe Coiiiniunists, becanie rather preocnipied with winning over the workingi iass votes to the virtual exclusion ot other categories oi' electors; but this iead was not followed by the Soeialist Parilanientary Party. They realised that their strength derived not only from the working class, but even niore troni the ei\il servants • and the petite hourgt oisie. liolh Socialists and Radicals, how ovr, would vvelcome eleetoral reforms. jiarticularlv as both liave elose locai a^sociations with the electorate, an advantage which is lost under Ihe present system of proportional representntion. A general election under the present sy.-tem would make government virtu allv inipossible. There is a growing opinion through out the country in favour of new electihns, adds the correspondent. This not y/X ly beeause the parliamentary govern ( nent is beeoming increasingly (litficult with the present Assernbly, but also beeause it is felt that ttie present Kouse does not retleet the feeling-in the couu tiy where there has been n very st.roiig trend towards the return to free enter )»rise and the removal of state eontrjls. This is a question on which the French pubiie inust give a deeision as the task "f lecouciling these two upposiug prin •'•i}'les, unavoidable with the present C'liistitnt ion of the Asseflibly, is beioiujng every day mere diflicult.