Evening star., 1947-05-04
|Ranladier May Ty
To Govern France
Without Communists
BY The Assoeiossd Press

PARIS, May 3.-Party leaders
lmaneuvered cautiously today siap-
ing strategy on the eve of q con-
| fidence vote in the National As
sembly which may bring the un-
iprecedented experiment in postwar
France of a premier attempting to
govern with Communists in his cai-
net.
While Socialist Premier Paul Ra-
nader remained firm in his de-
cision to stake the fate of his three
months-pld coalition cabinet on a
voice of confidence over the labor
question when the assembly meets
| tomorrow at 8 am. a am. Eastern
Standard Time), the Popular Re
publican Movement (MRP), an
nounced it would support him on
the issue. MRP is one of the three
largest parties.
The smaller Radical Socialists OF
Edouard Herriot were reported to
have taken a similar decision.
Backed by the MRPi of Foreign
Minister Georges Bidault, the Radi-
cal Socialists and his own Socialists,
Ramadier seemed certain of receiy-
ing his desired confidence vote.
Communists Silent.
No hint came as to the intentions
OF the Communists who precipitated
the crisis within the coalition cabi-
net by supporting strikers demands
for wage increases at the national
lied Renault automobile plant. A
high policy conference continued all
day at Communist headquarters,
and was to be resumed tomorrow.
The Socialist Executive Committee
also held a continuous meeting.
They were faced with the most
difficult decision-wl1at to do if
the Communists Withhold support
from the Ramadier cabinet in the
expected vote of confidence.
One section of the Socialists, chief
rivals of the Communists for the
votes of labor, argued for dropping
the Communists and leaving them
in the opposition in a cabinet re-
shuttle that would continue Rama
dier in Office.
This was a step which no gov
ernment of France, with the ex-
ception of the few days interim
regime of Leon Blum, has dared
take since Gen. Charles de Gaulle
formed his first post liberation gov
eminent
The other Socialist section argued
that such a course would leave the
Communists free to exploit their
dominance in the General Confed-
Grafton of Labor, largest French
labor federation, and perhaps para
lyze the nation and its recovery
program by wave of strikes. This
group feared, too, that such a
course would wreck the party by
a loss of labor votes, and preferred
to have Mr.. Ramadier resign if he
receives vote of confidence with
out Communist support.
Party Leaders Swing to Plan.
Reports from Socialist council
rooms, however, indicated more par
ty leaders we're swinging to the
plan to try to govern without the
Communists. Many were said to
have been emboldened to try such
an experiment by the firm anti
totalitarian stand voiced by Presi-
dent Truman in his declaration on
Greece and Turkey.
Such an experiment might have
far-reaching consequences in West
ern Europe.
The Communists were expected
either to vote confidence out
right. or abstain. Interest centered
ron the five Communist ministers.
The five walked out of one cabinet
meeting this week when the rest Of
the cabinet refused to reverse its
decision not to grant the 10000 Rem
auit strikers their demands for an
hourly wage increase of 10 francs
{8.4 cents.
Mr.. Ramadier the MPR and Radi-
cal Socialists all took the stand that
wage increase was contrary to the
government anti-inf1ation policy, in
which the Communist ministers pre-
viously had concurred, of no wage
iporeococ oyd mn rripn increases