FRENCH CABINET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26627, 25 November 1947, Page 5

FRENCH CABINET

FORMED BY M. SCHUMAN SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE SOUGHT Rec. 9 p.m. PARIS, Nov. 24. After 30 hours of almost uninterrupted negotiations, the Prime Minister, M. Robert Schuman, presented his new Cabinet. M. Georges Bidault remains Foreign Minister and will therefore represent France at the Foreign Ministers’ Conference opening in London to-morrow. There are no Communists in the new Cabinet which consists of nine M.R.P., six Socialist, three Radical Socialists, one moderate Independent Republican and one woman Minister. The full Cabinet is:— Premier: M. Robert Schuman (M.R.P.). Foreign Affairs: M. Georges Bidault (M.R.P.). Armed Forces: M. Pierre-Henry Teitgen (M.R.P.). Labour: M. Daniel Mayer (Socialist). Education: M. '.Marcel Naegelen (Socialist). Finance: M. Rene Meyer (Radical). Public Works: M. Christian Pineau (Socialist).

Agriculture: M. Pierre Pflimlii? (M.R.P.).

Justice: M. Andre Marie (Radical). Reconstruction: M. Rene Coty (Independent Conservative). Colonies M. Paul Costeflorel (M.R.P.). Interior: M. Juls Moch (Socialist). Industry: M. Robert Lacoste (Socialist). Ex-servicemen: M. Francois Mitterand (Radical). Public Health: Madame Germaine Poinsochapuis (M.R.P.). Secretary of State: M. Pierre Abelin (M.R.P.). Secretary of State for War: M. Paul Bechard (Socialist). Secretary of State for Navy: M. Johanesse Pierre Duprez (M.R.P.). Secretary of State for Air: M. Andre Matoselli (Radical). Secretary of State for German Affairs: M. Pierre Schneiter (M.R.P.) After presenting his Cabinet list to the President, M. Vincent Auriol, M. Schuman said: “My Government is a team determined to act—and talk as little as possible Many difficulties face us and we count on the French without which we cannot carry out people’s determination and discipline our mission.

Meanwhile, the Government has put into operation the carefully-prepared security plan originally, drawn up to deal with serious disturbances of a Communist uprising. Steel-helmeted guards in full battle kit patrol strategic points throughout Paris, and regular army troops stand ready to deal with any trouble which might arise. Hundreds of thousands of Paris workers will walk to work to-morrow. Three-quarters of the city’s railway traffic stopped to-day, when railwaymen joined other workers who are on strike. This development paralyses half of France’s railways. Five of the six principal railway stations by last night were wholly or partly involved in the railwav workers’ strike. St. Nazaire station, which serves the Channel coast, was affected. The French News Agency announced that the police had arrested 500 persons at Tananarive and Majunga, Madagascar, “ in an attempt to prevent an insurrectional movement.” Fears are growing that the extremists may attempt an armed uprising as the strike chaos spreads, says the Daily Express Paris correspondent. The French General Staff conferred all afternoon on measures to defend the country against revolt. Troops in the provinces have been sent to barracks around Paris. It is known that many army officers, especially in the French zone of Germany, are fanatical supporters of General de Gaulle.