Evening star., 1947-01-29

Mr.. DucloS, dareS speak Without hrSt
consulting the political bureau OF
the party.
Insist Bureaus Are Separate.
French politicians, who fear the
growing shadow of Moscow, insist
that there is a great difference be-
| tween the French Communist "Bu-
reau Politique" and the old line
"Politburea' of Moscow, which has
branches throughout the world
When it is pointed out that after all
it is only question of language be-
tween Bureau Politique" and "Po-
litbureau," they shrug their shoul-
ders and admit that unquestionably
there is link on major policies be-
tween the Russian Politbureau anC
Mr.. Thorez's Bureau Politique. But
they all wish to convince themselves
that the Communists are a French
political party.
Mr.. Thorez and Mr.. Duclos, who
F.! in the past were talkative and al
ways disposed to give interviews
are now the most silent people ir
this country. Whenever circum-
stances demand that they speak
for publication they issue statements
which must have the approval OF
the Bureau Politique. This or
ganization comprises many indi-
viduals who are not members OF
either the Assembly or the Council
of the Republic (the former Sen
ate). 1t keeps it's secrets far bet
ter than the general staff of the
French Army ever kept its top
secrets.
The new French electoral laws
while not providing for a single
party, have introduced a new ele-
ment in French political life. The
voters are required to vote for a
party list and not for an individual
Even Mickey Mouse could be elected
if his name were placed among
those of the candidates of any party
There are today in the French
National Assembly II parties: The
Communist and 10 others. The
Communists elected their candidates
with utmost care and placed in the
Assembly only tried and reliable in
dividuals. The other 10 parties, fol-
lowing the old individualism of
French politicians, have all kinds
of people in their ranks.
When crisis occurs the Com
munists always dominate the situa-
ton. While the other groups fight
On ~, otl,or o,,I y,oonip1r1ofo RI uof
the votes of less numerous parties,
the Communists stand fast and hold
the balance of power. They know
that the French Parliament today
| is powerless.
Can Take Control "By Phone"
One leading French statesman
told this reporter in all esrnestness
that the Communists could take
over the government Of France "by
phone if they wished to. But they
prefer to let things go from bad
to worse to prove to the people the
ineffectiveness of the old system
before they make their final bid for
power.
In the countries behind the iron
curtain" Moscow imposed its will
that only one party exist, but in
France it has helped to develop a
large number of political groups.
The sequel has been obvious for
the last II months. >One political
crisis followed the other because
there could be no lasting unity
among the politicians of the 10
nom Communist parties.
The French have been used to
multiparty system and believe it
to be the only true expression of
democracy. Never before have they
been faced with one solid group
like the Communists with their
iron-like discipline. This has led
Mr.. Blum, Frances elder statesman
who sees the tragedy which con-
fronts his country. to express a
longing for the two-party system
which prevails in America.