Evening star., 1953-06-26
Lanie| Wins
Approval as
Paris Premier
Gets IS More Votes
Than Needed; to Be
Bermuda Delegate

bermuda Delegate
Joseph Laniel. a wealthy tex
tile manufacturer who never be.
fore held major public Office, to-
day won approval as premier o1
France, breaking a 37-day polit-
ical deadlock which has twice
delayed the Big Three Bermuds
conference.
The new French leader is 6;
years old. He first came to the
French Assembly in 1882. but
hitherto has held only minor
cabinet posts.
Paris newspapers had credited
Mr.. Laniel with the courage OF
Daniel in entering the lions den
the National Assembly which
had previously turned down four
premiers. He will be Frances
18th postwar government.
The official tally, according to
the Associated Press. showed Mr.
Laniel had received 389 votes
in the balloting which came with
hardly any debate on the brief
program which he presented this
morning. There were 206 depu-
ties who voted against him.
Will Go to Bermuda.
Only 314 votes were necessary
to assure the premiership.
Prime Minister Churchill. pres
ident Eisenhower and Mr.. Laniel
plan to meet July 8 in Bermuda
for a conference on the mo-
mentous problems confronting
the three powers. 1t had been
planned originally for mid-June
but was postponed because OF
French inability to agree on a
Premier.
The deputies were apparently
wearied by the torrent of words
that have flowed since the crisis
began on May 81 with the defeat
of Rene Mayors cabinet on a
vote of confidence. They did not
even go through the motions of
asking Mr.. Laniel the usual ques-
tions about specific points on his
program.
The Assembly recessed after
MIR. Laniel made a brief vague,
investiture speech this morning
and held the usual party meet
ings. When the session was re-
sumed this afternoon tn y
launched Immediately into an
explanation of votes and then
got down to the business OF
dropping ballots into the urns.
No Cabinet Trouble Seen.
Mr.. Laniel'S next job will be
to form a cabinet. This was ex-
pected to present no difficulties.
He probably will call on a num-
ber of former premiers to fill the
key posts, and pass around the
ministries as widely as possible
among the political parties.
Mr.. Laniel promised that the
controversial European army
treaty would be brought before
the assembly. but not before Ger
taintv of Cd settlement of the
Saar dispute with Germany, (2)
agreement by the other five army
partners to the protocols France
has proposed and the others
don't want, and CD conclusion
of accords for British co-opera-
ton with the army.
Mr.. Laniels' foreign policy,
nevertheless, is expected to fol-
low closely along the lines laid
down by former Premier GEORGES
Bidault, an old associate who
may we'll be appointed as his
Foreign Minister. If so, his pol
lev in the long run will fit in
well with American plans for
Western Europe-including closer
economic and political cooper
alton and eventual formation OF
a Western European defense
community.
Another old friend of the new
Premier is the veteran Paul
Reynaud, who is considered a
likely candidate for the job of
deputy premier.
Conservatism MellOwed.
In spite of his classification
as an independent, Mr.. Laniel
actually is a member of the
ultra-conservative Republican
Party. But his domestic con-
servatism has been mellowed by
association with left of center
governments.
A native of Dimoutiers in the
Department of Orne, Mr.. Laniel
started out as successful
farmer and textile manufacturer
He still owns a linen factory in
Orne and still boasts that he
can spot the age of heifer at
so yards. =
His political career began %
years ago. when he succeeded
to his fathers seat in the AS
sembly representing the town.
ship of Lisieux. At the time OF
the French surrender in 1910 he
was serving as Undersecretary
of State for Finance in the cabi-
net of Mr.. Reynaud.
Was in Underground.
During the occupation ht
turned his talents to the resist
ance movement, serving in the
underground. AS a founding
member of the National Council
of the Resistance. a good deal o.
his time was spent successfully
lodging agents of the GeStapo
He returned to the Assembly
In 1945 as a representative from
Calvados, and has been reelected
ever since. In 1851 he was ap'
pointed Minister for Communi'
cations in the cabinet of Rene
Pleven, later becoming a Min
lister of State without a specific
assignment. He continued in thi'
post in the Ieftist cabinet of Pre-
mier Edgar Faure.
Tall, broad-shouldered anc
most IIntvnicallv Norman th,