Evening star., 1949-10-17
French Cabinet BUILDING

4Ac DuAIO1llS VI cIcuCn CdDlileIS Is
delicate art, and the products of this politi-
cal carpentry are apt to be equally fragile
The record shows that the average life
of French cabinet Is only few months
This is due to the political augmentation
of the legislature. No one party ever gains
even plurality In the lower house, much
less majority. Thus, any cabinet must
be the product of a coalition whose con-
Stituent elements have more or less diver
gent views, especially on domestic issues
The present National Assembly contains
four major groups-the Socialists, the
Radicals, the MRP or lettist clericals, and
the Communists. In addition, there are
a number of conservative groups on the
extreme right" more or less Influenced by
the movement headed by Charles de
Gaulle, which is not directly represented
in the Assembly because it grew up since
the elections from which the present As
sembly resulted.
The first three major groups above men
toned have negative bond of union in
their determination to keep out of Office
both the Communists and the extremists
of the right. And it is from this middle
made. But positive agreement on policies
is difficult, because each party stands for
different things. The Radicals, despite
their title, are traditional liberals who want
economy, lower taxes, the diminution of
official controls, and encouragement of
private enterprise. The Socialists stand
for managed economy favoring the work.
ing classes. The MRP stands about mid
way in these respects.
The recent Queuille cabinet, after last
ing surprisingly for 13 months, fell over
the wage-price crisis precipitated by the
francs devaluation in the wake of sterling
The Socialists insisted that wages be gen.
orally raised to compensate the workers
for increased living costs occasioned by
devaluation. The Radicals opposed this
as inflationary and as canceling out the
economic advantages of devaluation When
no agreement could be reached, Premier
Queuille, himself a Radical, resigned.
There followed a frantic search for q
new political combination which resulted
In the confirmation by the Assembly of q
new Premier in the person of Jules Moch
on compromise program under which the
lowest-paid workers would get a small
wage bonus, coupled with an effort to end
government control over wages and a re-
turn to collective bargaining between en-
ployers and labor. This last is obviously
concession to Radical principles.
However, M. Moch got his confirmation
by the slimmest possible margin-exactly
one vote. And he still has to choose his
cabinet, which involves a complex inter-
play of partisan politics and personalities.
M. Moch has shown his ability as Minister
OF the Interior In previous cabinets, espe-
cially by his stern handling Of the Com
munist-inspired political strikes last year.
That has won him the undying hatred of
the Communists. He thus represents the
conservative wing OF his Socialist party,
and as such will be more acceptable to the
Radicals and MRP But he cannot count
too much on the support of his own Leftist
party members, who strive to pose as the
friends of labor against Communist
charges. Thus, however his cabinet NAV
be made up, M. Moch is in very ticklish
position, and the general opinion is that
ne Will not last long. The chief hope lies
IN the common fears of the center bloc
against both Communists and De Gaullists,
coupled with the knowledge that, If no
lasting cabinet can be formed, the As
sembly must dissolve and new parlia-
mentary elections take place. That alter
native none of the trio wants, because it
is thought such elections would diminish
their present parliamentary strengths and
show gains especially for the De Gaullists.
SO Premier Moch may do better than Is
anticipated. But the situation is basically
unstable and unpredictable.