Evening star., 1954-12-27
Reversal of Stand on Germany
Expected by Narrow Margin
But Poris Regime Shows Less Confidence
Now Than Right After Initial Rejection

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The salvage operation, however
won't be easy. Spokesman fol
the government are talking g
great deal less confidently today
about their chances than they
were Immediately after the vote
2 Salient Facts.
At that time two facts stooc
out:
/. The original decision oi
the Assembly to kill German
rearmament was very largely
accidental.
2. A considerable number OF
Deputies voted against the
measure in complete confidence
that it would pass anyway, and
were openly appalled, when II
didn't. It also seemed clear
enough that If these gentlemen
could have voted again imme-
diately the damage would have
been repaired.
In view of this, it seemed
reasonable to think that Pre-
mier Mendes-France coul6
scrape up the % votes he need
ed to swing the balance. Among
the SO deputies who refused to
vote either way were at least
a dozen De Gaullists who might
be persuaded to cast favorable
ballots next time. Another
tactic would be to 60 after the
26 De Gaullists and % Radicals
In Mr.. Mendes- Frances own
party, who had voted against
the measure, and persuade them
to abstain.
Undoubtedly, Mr.. Mendes-
France has applied himself te
this task with grim determine
ton over the week end. # he
succeeds the result will be some
thing less than q resoundine
victory but at least a frighten-
ing alternative will be avoided
Position Not Strengthened.
There is no hiding the fact
however, that the government's s
general position has not beer
strengthened over the week end
AS he goes into the showdown al
least two things are causing Mr.
Mendes-France real concern.
First, is the effect of the Brit.
ish warning that Germany will
be rearmed anyway, whatever
the Assembly may decide. Facts
contained in Mr.. Eden's state
ment can hardly have come as 9
surprise to most Frenchmen. Mr.
Mendes-France himself has beer
bluntly warning of the same
thing all along.
On the other hand, as Mr.
Eden must know, French poll.
ticians do not as rule RESPOND
docilely to blunt persuasions BY
foreign statesmen. First press
reactions to the British state
ment have been bitter and de.
flant. And considering the pure
cussedness Of the average French
deputy, the net effect of the
warning may well be to harder
the will of the opposition. An.
other factor, which worries the
government strategists, is the ef-
feet Of the grassroots influence
on deputies over the week end
Normally, Mr.. Mendes-France is
happy to see the Assembly take
a holiday. AS a leader who re.
lies heavily on his own grass.
roots popularity he usually feels
that his position in the Assembly
is stronger at the beginning OF
the week after the deputies have
had a chance to sound out Their
constituents.
Popular Stand in France.
In the present case, however
government strategists are q
good deal less sure that last Fri
days vote was accidental. A
vote against German rearma-
ment, irresponsible as it may
seem to outsiders, Is still a popu-
lar vote in France. Today the
government is frankly afraid
that the Assembly may return
to Paris reinforced in their deci-
sion by reaction of the people
at home.
Against this Is balanced the
consequences of the Assembly s
decision about wlach few depu-
ties can have any illusions at this
point. And before voting begins
this afternoon the government
can be expected to confront the
Assembly very bluntly indeed
with its fateful responsibility.