PLENARY POWERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 October 1938, Page 8

PLENARY POWERS

DEMANDED BV FRENCH GOVERNMENT AS MEANS OF RESTORING STABILITY. M. DALADIER CHEERED. (Received This Day, 1.0 p.m.) PARIS, October 4. The preamble of the Bill which grants the Government plenary powers until December 12 explains that exceptional circumstances cause the Government to ask for authority for immediate measures necessary to ensure the economic and financial recovery of the country. If the Government’s request for plenary powers goes to a division, which in view of the preliminary vote seems unlikely, the Government can afford to neglect the attitude of the Socialists and Communists, being assured that it dominates the situation. M. Daladier, in the course of an hour’s speech, told deputies that plenary powers were necessary in order to enable the nation to assemble its full resources, adding: “All Frenchmen who desire the salvation of France must regard themselves as in a state of permanent mobilisation for service to peace and their country. We shall maintain peace only if the national production permits us to speak as equals with the peoples surrounding us, and if our finances are sound and our Budget balanced.” All sections of the Chamber cheered, with the exception of the Communists, who sat in grim silence, apparently anticipating defeat. M. Marchandeau tabled the Bill granting the Government plenary financial powers. It consists of one laconic article: “The Government is authorised until December 12 to take by decree measures intended to bring about an immediate recovery in the economic and financial position of the country. These \decrees will be submitted for ratification before January 1, 1939.” This was immediately submitted to the Finance Committee. AN OVERWHELMING VOTE The result of the vote for the adjournment, which foreshadows the eventual outcome, was 535 in favour and 75 against, the opposition consisting of 73 Communists and two Independents.