NEWS OF THE WEEK
THE fall of the Schuman Coalition on Monday night was brought about by its Socialist element, who apparently thought that such a move would benefit them at the local elections in October. It will certainly not benefit Europe and it can do nothing but harm to the reputation of France. That this should have happened at the very moment when M. Bidault was at The Hague discussing the most dangerous crisis which has arisen in Europe since the war was almost too bad to be true. At the very moment when decision was essential, and when France seemed to be getting back to her true position of responsibility in Europe, the Socialists—or rather the Left-wing Socialists, for their more responsible leaders seem to be unhappy about the whole business—chose to make decision im- possible. There could be no more welcome present to the worst enemies of France, whose insidious argument has always been that she will never again be fit to play an enlightened part in the affairs of Europe. There was not the excuse that the vote against the Government was called for on urgent domestic grounds. The Radical resolution, which the Socialists seized upon and drove to the extreme, concerned a reduction in the Service estimates which was little more than nominal. This protest would do nothing to improve the efficiency of the French forces, even if that were its true object. Even the shameful excuse that the confused and divided Socialist Party can give itself an injection of strength by this means is illusory. If party is going to break down it will only postpone its final collapse by political drug-taking. In the meantime the French Communist Party, roused to the alert by the best news it has had for months, stands by ready to welcome those Socialists who have always hankered after the so-called." solidarity of the workers." fThe most that can be hoped is that sothehow a new coalition will be patched together to stave off this menace, and to keep Corn- .
murusts and Gaullists from each other's throats.
