Evening star., 1946-06-03
French Vote Deals Communists
Second Setback Within Month
MRP Emerges as
Strongest Porty in
Assembly Elections
BY the Assoeiofsd Prsss


Sy the Asseeioksd Prsss
PARIS, June s3.-French Com
munists received their second
setback within a month today
as returns from yesterdays elec-
ton for a new Constituent As
sembly showed that the middle
of-the-road Popular Republican
Movement (MRP) had become
the nations strongest political
party.
Socialists took an even sharper
defeat than the Communists. as
the political pendulum swung away
from the left, continuing the trend
noted in the May S referendum
when a Communist Socialist Con-
stitution was rejected.
Although returns still had not
been received from the colonies,
which hold 60-odd seats, the MRP
was assured of at least 10 more
seats that it held In the last Assem-
bly, and at least one more seat than
the Communists previously held,
the Ministry OF the Interior said.
MRP Gains 10 Seats.
Complete but unofficial returns
from France and Corsica, as an
nounced by the Ministry, showed: :
MRP, 100 seats, compared with
$50 in the last assembly.
Communists, las, compared with
15s.
Socialists, IFS. compared with l46
Republican Liberals, SO, compared
with 64.
Republican Rally ORadical-So-
cialist), 43, compared with so.
Judging from returns in the last
two elections, the general trend will
not be affected by returns from the
colonies.
The MRP victory also was shown
in the popular vote from France
and Corsica which gave 1t a plu-
rality of approximately 100000 over
the Communists, their nearest ri
walls.
The popular vote in yesterday
elections and last October was:
MRP - 5.49l ,180; in October
4,842,37l.
Communists-5,l36,334; in Oc-
tober. 4,817, sos.
socialists-4,1e5,sl3; in October
4,495, ,4O2.
Socialists Lose Strength.
The popular vote showed that the
Communists, although they gainec
in total vote, were not able to match
the gain of the MRP. OF the thre.
parties, the Socialists alone lost ir
popular strength.
Maurice Schumann, one Of tht
MRP leaders, said in rAube that hi.
party may demand the presidency
Of the government.
Georges Bidault, present foreign
minister. is the leader of MRP.
Even before the final tabulation
rumors were heard at the Ministry
that the MRP might invite Gen
Charles de Gaulle to return as head
Of the new provisional government
These rumors were without any con-
EEhrmation, howeverS NnE .~s ~
Many observers said they expected
MRP to offer Bidault as the new
provisional President.
Since no party emerged with O
clear-cut majority, France will be
governed by 4 coalition-and some
sources believe the coalition will be
more dificult than ever to form
The present coalition Is composed
of the Communists, Socialists and
MRP.
Several Factors Involved.
Political observers said that the
factors which had an 18th hour in
f1uence on the campaign in France
which is still battle-ground between
the ideologies Of Communism and
western democracy, were:
/. The fact that the recent For
eign Ministers Conference here
ended in sharp disagreement be-
tween Russia and the West.
2. The United States loan te
France, negotiated by Socialist Party
Leader Leon Blum.
3. An open break between Com
munist and Socialist parties within
the last month.
4. A radio address by Pope Piu.
XII Saturday In which the pontif
said that the election. like the on,
held in Italy yesterday. offered 4
choice between the Christian way
Of life" as opposed to the ma
terialistic state"
Among successful candidates tt
the new Assembly were Mauric,
Thorez, secretary-general of tn,
French Communist party: Edouars
Daladier. prewar Premier; former
Premier Edouard Herriot, Radical.
Socialist leader; Pierre Mendes.
France, financial expert; forme1
Premier Paul Reynaud, and Michae
- IL