Evening star., 1947-10-22
French Cabinet
Ministers Quit;
Ramadier Stays
Way Is Seen Opened
For Gen. de GuuIIe
To Resume Power
BY the Associated Press

A1C1o, Wv. IL.-1lle llleIH-
bers of Frances cabinet handed
their designations today to So
cialist Premier Paul Ramadier,
but the Premier himself did not
resign. a.
In the midst of what the Premier
called Frances grave economic situ-
alton, his office announced that Mr..
Ramadier himself was firmly intent
on going ahead with the formation
of a new government It was not
certain. however, that Mr.. Ramadier
would be successful.
The announcement came with
startling suddenness, just three days
after Gen. Charles de Gaulles
smashing success in Frances munic-
lpal elections. Some observers said
the cabinets unanimous decision to
step down would facilitate the re-
turn of the liberation leader through
his new party, the Rally of the
French People.
The action came a few hours
after the cabinet had summoned
the National Assembly back from
vacation for an emergency session
set for next Tuesday. The Assembly
was not due to end its vacation
until November 13.
In Office Since May 4.
Mr.. Ramadier's present coalition
government has been in Office since
May 4, when five Communist Min
listers were expelled from the cab
met. The expulsion, said to have
stemmed from the United States
Truman doctrine, left cabinet of
Socialists, Radical Socialists, mem
pers Of the Popular Republican
Movement (MRP) and independents.
II Mr.. Ramadier fails to form a
new cabinet, French President Vim
cent Auriol conceivably might call
On Gen. de Gaulle.
The resignation also raised the
question whether the Communists
would be brought back into the
government-an unlikely move if
Gen. De Gaulle were called on.
Thus far the general has been silent
on his election success, and it is not
even clear whether he would accept
the premiership without a revision
OF the constitution in the manner
he proposes.
Two OF the parties in the
Ramadier cabinet, the MRP and
the Radicals. were heavy losers in
Sundays municipal election, and as
the French look at it were vir-
tually repudiated in their govern
ment posts.
The resignation of the cabinet
means that Foreign Minister
Georges Bidault, leader of the MRP.
at least temporarily is out of office.
Economic Situation Cited.
A communique issued after the first
cabinet meeting this morning said
that because of the ''complexity and
gravity OF the problems it is neces-
sary to inform the Parliament"
Mr.. Ramadier and Minister of Ma
tional Economy Andre Philip, the
communique said, spoke of rising
prices, the General Confederation of
Labor's demand for 81 per cent
minimum monthly wage hike and
AL other problems caused by the
country's economic and social situa-
tion."
They then asked the cabinet. the
report added, to approve calling
Parliament back to face this situa-
ton.
The Legislature also will face a
new political situation, caused by
recent creation of a 9-nation Com
munist Information Bureau in Bel
grade as well as by Gen. de Gauule's
success in last Sundays municipal
elections.
De Gaulle Delays Statement.
Gen. de Gaulle's associates, mean
while, said he had postponed a
statement, scheduled for today, on
last Sundays elections until after
next Sundays small-town runoff
voting.
At a second cabinet meeting, In
terror Minister Edouard Depreux,
the communique said, made a
statement on the results of Sundays
elections, but no details were made
public
A group of deputies, all of them
pledged to the policies af Gen de
Gaulle, meanwhile, met at the As
sembly this morning to form them
selves into a De Gaullist party in
Parliament
Approximately 40 deputies were
present, but last night a spokesman
for Gen. de Gaulle's party said 200 O.
the Assembly's 618 deputies were
pledged to the general prior to the
municipal elections.
The latest compilation of slow
returns from the balloting last week
end gave Gen. De Gaulle's party
and De Gaulle-Ied coalitions 38C
per cent of the popular vote thus
far reported.
MI. Bidault's MRP also waited fo
ICoo ED r7NrCTT -