Fragile Unity

Out of a major crisis came the first Government of the Fourth Republic.

It was a victory for President de Gaulle and a defeat, with consolations, for his Communist opponents. In the 22-man Cabinet the three major parties (Communist, Socialist, Popular Republicans) each had five portfolios. Six posts went to independents and moderates, only one to an admitted rightist. But the Communists failed to win any of the three key ministries: Foreign Affairs, Interior and War.

President de Gaulle had worked out a fragile compromise which postponed rather than solved the issue. He himself took a new overall Ministry of National Defense; under him, Communist Charles Tillon held a Ministry of Armaments. Interior went to Socialist Adrien Tixier.

Foreign Affairs continued in the hands of Popular Republican Georges Bidault. A "brain trust" of four Ministers of State included Communist Maurice Thorez, Socialist Vincent Auriol, Popular Republican Francisque Gay, Rightist Louis Jacquinot.

Shrewdly placed under Communist control were the Ministries of Industrial Production, Labor and National Economy. If France has a winter of want the Communists, sharing responsibility, will not be in a position to blame the Government. The important Ministry of Information went to an independent, self-styled "leftwing revolutionary": brilliant, versatile Author-Adventurer Andre Malraux.

The Constituent Assembly cheered when President de Gaulle outlined his program: in domestic affairs, there will be a speedup of nationalization. First on the list: credit, electric power, insurance. In foreign policy, France stands on her alliance with Russia, seeks similar alliances with her western neighbors, all within the UNO framework.

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