Battle of the Vice Presidents

Non-Communists in the National Assembly faced a dangerous situation last week and handled it admirably. The proceedings, however, were not dignified. The "Cocos" have had a lot of breath knocked out of them lately, but they always have enough left to scream insults.

When the 1948 Assembly convened, the oldest member, 78-year-old Marcel Cachin, presided as chairman, according to custom. It was not Cachin who had the non-Communists worried. It was slick, sly Comrade Jacques Duclos, who was the Assembly's first vice president last year.

If the Parliament is dissolved, which might happen at any time with Charles de Gaulle waiting in the wings, the constitution provides that the Assembly president shall take over as "acting Premier" until a new government is formed. That would be Radical Socialist Edouard Herriot of Lyon, reliable as an oak, who was re-elected to the presidency last week. But M. Herriot is old and ailing. If he were too ill to serve, the first vice president would take over. Therefore, reasoned the Assembly majority, Jacques Duclos must not again be first vice president.

Cocos shook their fists, called their opponents "American lackeys." A group of anti-Reds retorted by singing The Volga Boatmen. When Cachin left the chairman's seat, the second oldest member, 75-year-old Maurice Viollette, was hustled forward to take his place. But a cordon of Reds barred the way.

Scuffling broke out and then some cool-headed peacemaker switched off the lights. After a few seconds of total darkness, cigarette lighters flashed like fireflies on a summer night. And that was enough for one day.

Next day the non-Communists quickly elected their ticket, giving the first vice presidency to a Socialist, the second to a Popular Republican. The Cocos got the third and fourth spots. Furious and frustrated, they said they would not accept. When Foreign Minister Georges Bidault appeared to say a few words, they advised him to run away and drink his U.S. Coca-Cola, chew his U.S. chewing gum.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.