M. SCHUMAN AGAIN FRENCH PREMIER

Grey River Argus, 2 September 1948, Page 5

M. SCHUMAN AGAIN FRENCH PREMIER

PARIS, September 1. M. R,obert Schuman, Leader of the M.R.P., is the new Prime Minister of France. He has been approved by the National As- . sembly. M. Schuman received 322 votes, 11 more than the required majority. One hundred and eighty-five voted against him.

“The liberty of liberated France is at stake,” he said. “France’s economic situation was grave, but there was no cause for panic. My Government will continue actively to support a Parliament of Europe. I intend to have a smaller Cabinet and cut the civil service, meat and wine prices, and the military budget. “Save the franc and you save liberty,” M. Schuman said. He urged increased industrial production. There was loud applause from M. Schuman’s own Popular Republican members, but silence from the extreme Right and Left as he asked for a vote of confidence. The 'Assembly adjourned and the vote is expected in the early hours of to-morrow. LABOUR SUPPORT M. Leon Jouhaux, President of Force Ouvriere (non-Communist Trade Union Federation), whom M l . Schuman visited before going to the National Assembly, declared: “I told M. Schuman the situation, owing to increased production, is in no way catastrophic, but the circumstances call for improvement in the workers’ situation.” M. Jouhaux hinted that if there was not an appreciable improvement in the workers’ living conditions, insurmountable difficulties would be encountered.