The Key West citizen., 1954-12-27
French Assembly Convenes To
Consider Fatcful Decision
BY HARVEY HUDSON

AnS IGIlC0 NdLIOhol
Assembly convened shortly after
pm. today for decision fateful
for the government of Premier Pi.
ere Mendes-F France and the de.
fenSe OF the Western world.
The Premier is asking for the
Assembly's vote of confidence on
West Germany's entrance into the
North Atlantic Treaty Organiza-
tion and, by implication, the whole
network of London-Paris accords
for West German rearmament as
a partner IN seven-nation West
ern European Union.
The public and press galleries OF
the chamber were packed long be-
fore the Assembly was called TO
order by its presiding officer, An
Dire Letroquer.
Outside, many others, including
knots of Communist demonstrators
hostile to West German rearma-
ment, thronged against barricadeS
waiting turn to get inside.
Police Guard
Hundreds of police stood on
guard at strategic points around
the Assembly building, the Bour-
bon Palace, to maintain order.
Shortly before the session
opened, most of the political
groups were holding last minute
caAcuSeS, and the odds appeared
to favor the Premier by a slim
margin.
The executive committee of the
Independent Republicans, most of
whom were hostile to the govern
ment last week, advised party
members today to vote for the
Premier. This, it said, should be
done to support the Atlantic Al
lance and not as a gesture for
Mendes-France personally.
Various party spokesman
planned to take the floor before
Mendes-France himself presented
a supreme last-minute appeal for
the Assembly's backing on his pro-
Western foreign policy. Defeat
would mean the resignation of his
Six-month-old government.
Two Main Points
He is asking vote of confidence
today on two points-WeSt Ger
many's entrance into NAT0, and
endorsement of the governments
position on three amendments to
the ratification bill.
If successful on those ballots, he
was slated to demand that the As
sembly reverse its refusal last Fri
day to ratify the treaty permit
ting West Germany to rearm as
a member of the Seven-nation
Western European Union (WEU).
That, too, would be a question Of
confidence which under Assembly
rules could not be voted on for
"a hours, probably tomorrow.
Defeat on any of the three votes
would force the government to re-
sign, plunging France into anoth-
er of its numerous postwar Cabi-
net crises.
Observers declined to predict in
advance Of the Assembly session
how the deputies would vote. But
it appeared that at best Mendes-
France could hope only for ap-
proyal of rearmament by a small
margin, and with many Assembly
members abStaining from the bal
lot.
Future Hopes
The whole future of the Western
alliance and of Frances position
awaited the outcome of the As
sembly votes. The British govern
ment, backed by the United States,
has announced that West Germany
will be rearmed regardless of the
French action, and that final
French rejection of the treaties
will result in reconsideration of
the British pledge last fall to keep
troops on the European continent.
In Augusta, Ga, White House
Press Secretary James c. Hagerty
announced that President Eisen-
hover would consider cutting short
his Christmas holiday if the French
deputies refused to ratify the
treaties.
Though it rejected the Western
European Union pact on Friday.
the Assembly at that session ap-
proved the treaty restoring West
German sovereignty and also the
French-German agreement on in
ternational control of the disputed
Saar.
Party positions on today's votes
could not be set until after Mendes-
France addressed the deputies to
plead for support.
Balloting was expected late in
the afternoon.