Evening star., 1954-05-12
LanieI Stakes
Regime on Vote
NConfidence
France May Lose
PurIiument in Midst
Of !ndo-Chinu Crisis
BY Crosby S. Noyes
Foreign Correspondent Of The Sfor


Foreign Correspondent Of The Stor
PARIS, May 12.-Barring a
political miracle, France will be
without a government tomorrow
afternoon-and perhaps without
a parliament too.
For the second time in a week
Premier Laniel has gone before
the National Assembly to ask
for the vote of confidence he
needs to continue the search for
peace at Geneva and-if neces-
sary-to continue the war in
Indo-China. And this time the
assembly is clearly not in a mood
to give it to him.
Wiser hands at the murky bus
ineSs of French politics are hedg-
ing their bets. Anything, they
say, can happen in the next
"a hours. There is always
the possibility that when it
comes to a showdown, the same
deputies who attacked Mr.. Laniel
SO bitterly from the assembly
roStrum yesterday may have a
change of heart. They may take
a long look at the consequences
Of what they want to do and
decide against it.
But the chances are slim.
Debate Demand Rejected.
Last night in the assembly,
Premier Laniel stared defeat
squately in the face. OF the dep
uties present it was clear that
the large majority wanted him
out of Office regardless of the
consequences. together with For
eign Minister Bidault and De-
fense Minister Rene Pleven. And
so Mr.. Laniel did the only thing
he could do.
His shoulders sagging with IA
tigue the burly premier addressed
a final appeal to the assembly
Debate had been demanded, he
said, on the conduct of war in
1ndo-China. Such debate at this
time would be dangerous and
against the national interest. It
would hamper the military and
diplomatic leadership of the
country at a critical moment.
The government was rejecting
the demand and asking for a
vote Of confidence.
II ask you to vote on this
question" Mr.. Laniel said: Can
we take the responsibility of halt
ing the progress of negotiations
at Geneva? Can we Withdraw
our support from the military
command in Indo- -China?"
Answer Due Tomorrow.
Tomorrow afternoon, Mr.. Lanlel
will have his answer.
If a majority of the Assembly
3l4 members out of 627, turn
down Mr.. Laniel's plea, the gov
ernment will fall. And since il
would be the second time within
18 months that the government
was SO ouSted Parliament coulC
be dissolved and new national
elections held. Mr.. Laniel has let
it be known that he will take
this step if he is defeated. Hs
has also let it be known that
If he is outvoted by less than
an absolute majority, he, unlike
his predecessors, will not resign.
Even before the opening oil
the Assembly session yesterday
the first since announcement Of
sthe fall of Dien Bien Phu-it
was clear that the government
was in for trouble. The deputies
has spent a constructive week
end in the provinces Samplins
grass-roots reaction to the new
turn Of events. AS they gathered
in the assembly lobby. they ex.
changed the unanimous opm.
ion: Get off the hook of Dier
Bien Phu or suffer the politica
consequences.
Start Is Quiet Enough.
The session started off quietly
enough. On a front bench tht
Premier sat solidly beside hi
Defense Minister lingering papel
on the desk before him through
out the preliminarieS.
When the Assembly Presiden
announced a demand for debat,
on Indo-China. signed as re
Quired by so Deputies, Mr.. LAME
was ready.
The request for debate wa
quite in order, he said. Whel
it opened the government ha,
no doubt that it could prove tina
the operation at Dien Bien PHI
tragic as was outcome-ha
increased the prestige of France
armed forces and served highl
useful military purpose.
The question was when tn
debate should take place. Premie
Laniel recalled that this wee
the Assembly was to decide o
setting up a ''co-ordinating com
mission" to look into the prot
lens of Indo-C China. The gol
(See MOVES, Page A-3.)