FRENCH POLITICAL SITUATION AND INDOCHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01443R000200300013-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 9, 1998
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: May 25, 1954
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approved For Release 2000/08/30;
OR014M.0
WE/FB
FRENCH POLITICAL; SITUATION AND INDOCHINA
Ct+:
1. Laniel government 1 June.
A. National Assembly in recess *W this week
II. After 1 June Laniel's position increasingly precarious
because of:
A. Splits inside the coalition.
1. Hostile motion about Indochina on 20 May from
Pierre Andre, member of Laniel's own group
(Independents) and leader of parliamentary
organization against EDC.
2. One report of dissatisfaction with Bidault on
part of his own Popular Republican Party.
3. Continued willingness of.Gaullists and Radical
Socialists to make political hay out of govern-
ment's difficulties.
B. Press more caustic:
1. Rightist Aurore on 24 May called on president
Coty to replace Laniel.
C. Additional factors when Assembly reconvenes on
1 June:
1. Anti-EDC forces in cabinet may choose this occa-
sion to resign because:
acamr-P
Approved For Release 2000/08/30 : RIMR01443R000200300013-4
 Approved For Release 2000/08/30: CIA-RDP80R01Q2r300013-4
a. Socialist Congress on 29-30 May expected
to call for disciplined vote on:EDC.
b. Popular Republican Congress on 29-30 May
likely to bring into question party's
continued participation in government if
stalling on EDC continues.
c. Official announcement of French-German
agreement on Saar expected after Socialist
Congress. ~.~. _.. .. a.
2. New parliamentary interpellations regarding
Indochina policy already presented on:
a. Wisdom of excluding Great Britain from
American-French military talks.
b. Reinforcement question.
III. Nevertheless, so long as Geneva still seems to hold
hope of Indochina settlement, deputies will hesitate
to create government crisis.
A. In 13 May vote of confidence enough deputies switched
at last minute to give Laniel his 289-287 victory.
Approved For Release 2000/08/30 : T01443ROO0200300013-4