Evening star., 1948-01-28
BY the Associoted Press

FARlO, Jan. Zo.-FTeml6T hOU-
ert Schuman'S government will
fall If the National Assembly
votes down his gold program, a
cabinet spokesman said today.
Defeat threatened the gold pro-
posal, an integral part of the gov
ernment's monetary program deval-
uating the franc and setting up a
free money market.
Mr.. Schuman pleaded for support
from the Socialist Party to save
the program. The Socialists, al
though represented in the cabinet,
decided unanimously in caucus
yesterday to oppose the Schuman
bill to permit free trade in gold in
France.
Secretary of State Pierre Abelin
told neWsmen after cabinet meet
ing-the second in IL hours-the
government could not continue if
the gold clause met defeat.
Try to Swing Socialists.
Mr.. Schuman, Foreign Minister
Georges Bidault and Finance Mini
ster Rene Mayer went before a
meeting of Socialist deputies after
the cabinet session in an attempt
to swing the Socialists behind the
proposal.
Mr.. Bidault stepped out after the
meeting had been going on two
hours.
Il have the impression that
neither M. Schuman nor I was able
to convince them," he said.
Finance Minister Mayer continued
the government attempts to change
the Socialists minds.
The Assembly has decided to dis
cuss the gold measure Immediately,
as requested by the Premier.
Thus far the government has not
officially risked its life on the meas
ure by demanding a vote of con-
fdence.
Ministers Approved Gold Phase.
Parliamentary approval is neces-
sary only for the free gold trade
phase Of the program. The devalu-
alton and free money market meas
ures already have been put into
effect by cabinet decree.
The Socialist ministers in Mr..
Schuman's cabinet approved the
gold measure before 1t was sent to
the Assembly. Since the Socialist
deputies have voted in caucus
against it, there is some question
whether the Socialists can remain
in the cabinet.
The Assembly's Finance Commits
sion disapproved the gold bill yester-
day, II to Is. The Communists and
the adherents of Gen. Charles de
Gaulle already have expressed op-
position.
The Socialist newspaper LIE Popu-
laire, however, indicated the party S
opposition went farther than the
gold clause. Deputy Henri Nogues
wrote in the newspaper that 'it is
really and truly the government s
entire economic policy which is in
question" He added, however, that
the Socialists have no desire to
overthrow the Schuman govern
ment.
Assembly May Still Override.
One political observer declared
the Socialists could not overthrow
the government because there's no.
body left but De Gaulle after Schu-
man"
There still is a possibility the As
sembly may override the Finance
Commission report.
The Assembly voted last night,
373 to 1874, to place the gold pro-
posal first on its agenda. While
the vote in this respect supported
Mr.. Schuman, it had little political
significance. Only the Communist
bloc opposed the request.
There is no other important legis-
lation pending.
Information Held Inadequate.
A commission spokesman said last
night the government had not given
Vic ColllAcSlOll oull1ClCllL 11l1Ol LID
ton on how it plans to keep de-
valuation from resulting in higher
prices in France. Mr.. Schuman
has said he counts on it to smoke
out hidden gold reserves needed in
foreign trade and home economy.
When he introduced the gold bill
Mr.. Schuman told the deputies they
could express their views on the
entire three-point program.
Socialist deputies opposing the
bill said they did not think the
provision for 25 per cent tax on
hoarders was high enough.
They also contended France
should reopen negotiations with
Britain and the International Mon
etary Fund in Washington for
agreement on devaluation of the
franc and creation of free money
market. Both disapproved devalua-
fior,