Evening star., 1938-01-17

fdOOf, CTedted CGbinef crisis IN
France last Friday by inriting Com
nauntsts to abandon Peoples Front
government Cabinet then resioned
and efforts OF George Bonnet,
former Ambassador to Washington.
and er-Premier Leon Blum to form
neD ministry fraitless. Fight re-
DOlDes around Communist and
Socialist demand for exchange con-
troll, opposed by Rightist parties.
By the Associated Press.
PARIS. Jan. l7.-Camille Chautemps
struggled in an anxious atmosphere
today to form new Peoples Front
ministry to end Frances four-day
crisis. precipitated when his own
cabinet resigned Friday in the face OF
financial and labor troubles
President Albert Lebrlln summoned
the Radica!-Socialist former premier
after Leon Blum, Socialist leader
failed to gain support for national
union" government.
A strained calm pervaded the halls
Of the Chamber of Deputies and was
evident throughout the nation as
Frances acute financial and labor
problems continued unsolved because
OF the failure to organize ministry.
More Arms Caches Found.
The country's restlessness was in
creased by new discoveries of hidden
arms caches in the Surete Rationale S
drive against Leftist and Rightist
revolutionary organizations.
After his conference with M. LIE
Brun. M. Chautemps indicated he
would attempt to form a cabinet
modelled substantially on his old
Peoples Front government, retaining
several Of his previous ministers.
Just as conservative opposition
killed M. Blum's "audacious' attempt
TO form cabinet. it was reported in
the Chamber of Deputies that Social
ist opposition was developing to new
M. Chautemps cabinet.
There also was talk M. Chautemps
was seeking combination between
the Radical-Socialists and the mod
crate Centrist followers of Paul Rey-
maud, former finance minister.
Others Reported Seen.
NJ Chautemps was said to have
talked with Edouard Herriot, Rad
ical-Socialist president of the Cham
ber with M. Blum. with Edouard
Daladier. former defense minister, and
Senate President Jules Jeanneney.
The Bourse was open. but only
limited foreign exchange operations
were allowed. Banks quoted the franc
at 5000 to the dollar.
AS night Of the fourth day of the
crisis approached huge placards ap-
peared on the boulevards laying the
blame for Frances troubles variously
on capital and labor. Rightists and
Leftists. One called for an anarchist
mass meeting.
Conservatives Opposed Blum.
NJ. Blum, who has been designa ted
after ne had blocked efforts by
Georges Bonnet, Radical-Socialist. to
form government, had met Conserva-
tive opposition for his plan to draw
support from Centrist factions for
the Peoples Front lineup of Social
lists, Communists and Radical-Social-
lists.
When M. Blum announced his fall
ure to form cabinet, the Communist
party issued statement which said:
The formation of the government
envisaged by M. Blum was rendered
impossible by demands of Paul Rey-
maud former finance minister and
Moderate CentristJ who wanted to
impose the presence. in the cabinet.
Of elements linked with terror and
Fascism.''
Tasks Facing Government.
Tasks confronting a new govern
ment included: Ending widespread
strikes by bringing capital and labor
together, strengthening the franc, re-
ducing the treasury deficit and re-
building French influence among Gen.
tral European allies which are drift
Ing toward Germany and Italy.
The three parties of the shattered
Peoples Front each planned meetings
today-the Radical Socialist Deputie.
being summoned to discuss M. Blum,
unity platform. the Socialist National
Council to hear the same proposals
and the Communists Central Commit.
tee and Deputies to discuss plans te
Be followed If they were included ir
the government.