Evening star., 1946-09-19
Gen. de Gau||e Fiqhts
New Constitution as
Aid 10 Dictatorship
BY the Associated Press


PARIS, Sept. 19.-Gen. Charles
de Gaulle spoke out today against
Frances proposed new constitu-
ton, declaring its adoption
would place the nation in danger
of anarchy or dictatorship"
In statement issued to the press
the former President said the
charter, despite certain changes, was
in reality the same as that" re-
jected by the nation in a referendum
last May.
Gen. de Gaulle said he hoped the
nation also would reject the new
constitution, even though this would
mean prolonging the temporary gov
ernment in France.
The proposed constitution, he as
serted, provided no chief of state
who really is one; no real organ
ization of the French union"
The general, who resigned last
January as interim president and
has remained since that time in
virtual political retirement, indi-
Gated he would support in the COM
ing election campaign candidates
who agreed with him on the con-
stitutional issue.
Fears Cascade of Elections"
Gen de Gaulle pointed out that
If the constitution were rejected a
new Constituent Assembly would be
elected in November for a seven
month term. He said that when
vote was held on the third con-
stitution, drafted by the new As
sembly. the people also could vote
on retaining the deputies in office
for f1ve-year period.
He explained that this would avoid
cascade of elections"
Gen. de Gaulle said the present
draft of the constitution would
establish IAN omnipotent assembly
and government by assembly"
For France and the French
union, such regime, in my opinion,
would risk leading us finally to
anarchy or dictatorship" he said.
I'VE are not rich enough to pay for
either one or the other.
In the present situation of France
and the French union. no problem
appears to me more urgent and i'm
portant than to reconstruct the re-
publican state Gen. de Gaulle said.
That problem dominates all others.
MRP Committee Meets.
Il believe that in that respect the
direction followed up to now by the
greatest number (of deputies) in the
Parliament is not the right direction.
All my wishes 60, then, to those
who present themselves as candi-
dates in the election pledged to fol-
low another direction. I say it and
will say it."
The parliamentary committee OF
the Popular Republican Movement
(MRP) met hurriedly to study Gen.
de Gaulles statement.
Deputy Marcel Poimbeouf said the
position of the MRP had not
changed.
I'VE have demanded certain modi-
flcations in the present text of the
constitution" said Poimboeuf. IF
these are accepted we will vote for
the constitution"
He did not specify the nature of
these changes.
Denies Statement.
Rene Capitant, leader of the
"Gaulist Union" previously denied
that he had said Gen. de Gaulle
would publicly indorse any political
candidates that the union might
advance.
Capitant had been quoted to that
effect Sunday by the Official French
news agency.
The "Gaulist Union" was formed
to back the constitutional principles
advocated by the former provisional
president and has been frankly
lobbying against adoption OF the
constitution now being drafted for
the Fourth Republic.
Members of the union have indi-
Gated that if the constitution is
adopted they will advance candi-
dates at the next election to fight
for its revision.