Rival Claims in France
With speeches by M. Schuman General de Gaulle and M. Thorez, the Communist leader, France had her fill of week-end oratory. Of the three the second and third represented aspiration, the first achievement, or the claim to achievement. M. Thorez, before events in Italy had revealed the ineffectiveness of the Communist- Socialist affiance, made a bid, pretty plainly futile, for Catholic and Socialist support. General de Gaulle once more proclaimed the Communist danger, once more denounced the present regime, once more demanded new elections and once more appealed for a united Western Europe under French leadership. The fact that his speech at. Marseilles led to none of the disorder that had been expected spoke well for the precautions the Government had taken. M. Schuman on the whole was reassuring. France is very far from being through her troubles, but production in most fields is steadily increasing and the harvest prospects—a vital matter in France— are good. But the harvest is some months distant yet and the French want more bread and lower prices. If they fail to get the latter even the new Force Ouvriere, friendly as it is to the Government, may make serious trouble. But Marshall aid should have a steadying effect, the economic and military co-operation assured by the Benelux treaty, and the prosecution of conversations on customs union and other matters with an Italy now guaranteed against lapsing into Communism, should all make for a steady growth of confidence. There is no practical alternative to the Schuman Government, which deserves both support within and any support the allies of France can give it from without. A stable France is essential to the stability of Western Europe. Neither the one nor the other is yet secure, but the prospects for both are steadily improving.
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