Evening star., 1953-11-13
Foreign Policy Talks
In French Assembly
Pushed by Leaders
BY the Assoeiassd Press

PARIS, Nov. 13.-Government
leaders are mapping plans to
push an early full dress National
Assembly debate on Frances for
eign policy. Opposition Of some
deputies to the session has
aroused fears the Big Three Ber-
muda conference may be post
poned.
The dispute involves French
politicking in advance of the
election of successor to Presi-
dent Vincent Auriol, whose sew
en-year term is up January 16
Under French parliamentary
rules. the government will have
to resign the moment a new
president takes Office
The foreign affairs debate was
requested by the government to
give Premier Joseph Laniel and
Foreign Minister Georges BIZ
dault-both expected to be presi-
dental candidates-the benefit
of parliamentary backing when
they leave December for the
British, French and United
States talks. Deputies, however,
baked at setting date and
some asked for lengthy post
ponement.
Fear Prestige.
Much of the opposition ap-
parently stems from fears that
Mr.. Laniel and MIR. Bidault may
gain added prestige at Bermuda.
One deupty commented: why
should Laniel and Bidault be
permitted 70 make their presi-
dental campaign on the shoul-
ders of the allies"
French commentators gener-
ally assumed that failure of the
Assembly to hold the debate
would imply postponement of the
Bermuda talks. Without parlia-
mentary backing. they said, Mr..
Laniel and Mr.. Bidault would sit
only as representatives of
caretaker government limited to
day-to-day business in anticipa-
ton of the presidential vote.
The chief executive is elected
by members of both houses of
Parliament. The date for the
balloting has not yet been set
but it must be held within two
weeks after President Auriol
quits.
To Press War.
Speaking to the Council of the
Republic. the upper house, last
night, Mr.. Laniel said France in
tended to carry on the seven
year war against the Commu-
nist-led Wet Mimi in Indo-China
with all possible vigor.
Repeating previous assertions
that France would be happy to
work for a negotiated peace, he
noted, however. that no reply |
had been received from the Wet |
Minis Moscow trained leader,
Ho Chi Mimi, since his first
statement of French Willingness.
Thus it is to Ho Chi Mini |
that the partisans of peace at /
any price should CO." the
Premier added.
De Gaulle Attacks edo.
Another hot issue was brought
to the fore again yesterday when |
Gen. Charles De Gaulle told a |
press conference France should .
ask Moscow for a direct "yes or
no" answer on whether the
SovietS can work out an agree
ment with the Western world.
Bitterly attacking the idea of |
the proposed six-nation Euro
pean Defense Community. he
made it clear he favored the ap-
peal to Russia in order to delay |
and perhaps doom ratification of !
the EDO treaty, which calls for
a one-uniform European army
including West German troops.
Gen. De Gaulle. who holds no
post in the government and re-
Gently disbanded his right-wing
French Peoples Rally Party, de-
clared implementation of the
EDO would put France at Ger
smany'S mercy. He accused the |
United States and Britain of
pushing France into a treaty |
they themselves would never |
sign.