Evening star., 1949-10-28
Bidau|t Government
Confirmed, 367-183,
By Frances Assembly
By the Associated Press

by me RSSoCioteo rroSS
PARIS, Oct. 2S.-France's long
est political crisis in so years
ended early today with the con-
f1rmation of Georges Bidault as
premier.
Mr.. Bidault had formed his
cabinet lineup before the National
Assembly approved him 367 to 1873.
For the 50-year-old leader Of
the Popular Republican Move
ment (MRP) today's coming to
power was a full circle of the
political wheel. Head of the war
time resistance in France, Mr.. BIZ
dault was his eountry's provisional
president and premier from June
to December, 1916, and her foreign
minister from 1945 until July, 1948.
Soon after his confirmation, Mr..
Bidault presented his cabinet to
President Vincent Auriol. He had
secured party agreement to the
cabinet lineup before the Assem-
bly, vote, overcoming in advance
the obstacle on which two previous
choices for premier foundered.
Coalition of Center Parties.
Mr.. Bidault's new government
was based on the same coalition
of center parties which have been
governing France for more than
two years. His program was almost
identical with that proposed by
Socialist Jules Moch and Radical
Socialist Rene Mayer. who had
failed in forming governments.
Like them, Mr.. Bidault prom
ised a cost-of-living bonus for the
lowest paid workers. Disagree
ment over the wages issue had
forced the resignation of Premier
Henri Quielle's government Oc-
tober 6.
France had not been so long
without a government, historians
said, since 1899, where Rene Wal
deck Rousseau formed a cabinet
after the country had been with
out one for a month.
Approving Mr.. Bidault as Pre-
mier, the National Assembly gave
him the biggest majority for a
Premier at his start in Office since
November. 1947, when Robert
Schuman received 412 votes. Mr.. |
Bidault needed only 80 votes.
The new Bidault government
was much similar to the Queuille
government. Ten of the Is min
listers were retained in their old
jobs. Mr.. Queuille himself was
back as vice premier and min
lister without portfolio.
Schuman at Foreign Office.
Among Mr.. Queuille's 16 min
isters there had been five Social
lists. two Radical Socialists mod
crates and six MRP members.
Mr.. Bidault named Is ministers, |
with five Socialists. three Radical
Socialists. six MRP and the rest
from small rightist or independent |
groups.
Mr.. Bidault retained Mr.. Schu-
man as foreign minister. Also
back in their old jobs were In
terror Minister Jules Moch. Social
ist, and Finance Minister Maurice
Petsche, Independent.
There were only three notable
changes from the Queuille cabinet.
aside from the premiership.
Socialist Paul Ramadier was
dropped as minister of defense.
The portfolio went to Rene Pleven,
of the small Democratic and So
cialist Union of Resistance (UD
SRI. Mr.. Mayer, Radical Social
list, became Minister of Justice. in
stead of Robert Lecourt, MRP.
Pierre Segelle, Socialist, re-
placed his fellow party member
Daniel Mayer as Minister of La
bor. Mr.. Mayer had been blamed
for forcing the downfall of the
Queuille government and was per-
sonally unpopular among the
other parties because of this. He
had asked Wednesday night that
he not be considered for cabinet |