Evening star., 1948-09-07
Another French Cobinet

After eight days OF almost chaotic
uncertainty, France again has a govern
ment A new cabinet has taken Office,
headed by Robert Schuman. However, his
leadership is apt to be misleading, because
the cabinet he now heads is notably dif-
ierent in character from the one he headed
some weeks ago. And few informed
observers can deem the change an i'm
provement.
The first Schuman cabinet, together
with its evanescent successor headed by
Andre Marie, did its best to grapple with
the crucial dangers which beset Frances
economic life. They both tried to halt
the drifttoward uncontrolled imitation and
financial insolvency by such measures as
trimming the budget, holding wages,
reducing prices, encouraging private in
itiative, and putting the socialized indus
tries on an efficiency basis.
In the long run, this drastic program of
economy and dedation would presumably
have lifted France out OF its economic
slough OF despond. But it would have
involved short-run sacrifices from nearly
all classes. And French organized labor,
especially, would have none of it. On this
issue, Communist, Socialist, and Catholic
unions united in demanding measures
which would at least partially close the
gap between wages and prices. Since those
measures would be inflationary in char
acter, thereby tending to defeat the stabil-
ization program, the Popular Republican
and Radical members of the first Schuman
and Marie Cabinets declined to sanction
them. But these refusals entailed the
detection of the Socialists, the third men,
ber of these coalition cabinets, and III each
case resulted in their downfall. And the
Socialists made it clear that they would
enter no government which did not meet
labor's demands
Obviously, the Socialists were responsible
for the ensuing parliamentary deadlock.
And 1t Is equally obvious that. in the
new Cabinet, they are going to have their
way. All the key domestic posts are in
their hands. The change is best exempli-
fed by the replacing OF Paul Reynaud, the
champion of economy and private enter
prise, by Socialist as Minister of Finance
and National Economy. Premier Schuman,
by taking Foreign Affairs as his province,
virtually washes his hands of RESPONSE
bility for what ensues in the domestic field.
And it should be noted that the new
Cabinets first act was to vote a cost-of-
living bonus to labor. Reynaud's program
is obviously out the window.
The logic Of the new situation thus por-
tends Socialist experiments for controlled
economy, special consideration for labor
and more imitation. This is causing deep
pessimism in financial and business circles.
1t is likewise beclouding the prospects Of
q projected large bond issue, since the
confidence of investors is shaken by Rey-
nauds fall. Last but not least, 1t may
compromise Frances ability to qualify for
further American aid under the European
Recovery Program.
Since all this does not sit we'll with
either the Radicals or the Popular Re
publicans, the new cabinet does not start
under good auspices. The Socialists have
called the tune. They must now pay the
piper. And beyond the halls of parliament
stands the figure of Charles de Gaulle,
saying: II told you sol" to an increasingly
irritated and disillusioned French people.
Despite Schumans name and prestige,
therefore, his second cabinet inspires
neither confidence for the present nor
much hope for the future.