Ext 6116/46(S) 'Secret Weekly Political Intelligence Summaries, nos 356-416, August 1946-November 1947' [‎7v] (14/978)

10
confuse the issues and to make it appear
that M. Ramadier and the Socialist Party
were tools of “ American imperialism ” to
an even greater extent than was General
de Gaulle.
The new orientation of the Communist
Party was shown in the proceedings of the
two-day session of the Party’s Central
Committee, held last week. M. Thorez
explained to the committee the significance
of the formation of the “ Cominform ” at
Belgrade, emphasising the need to light the
“ American policy of expansion.” He also
analysed the failure of the attempts made
during the last ten years to form alliances
with other left-wing parties. He
pronounced a remarkable mea culpa,
admitting to tactical mistakes made by the
central committee and the Party’s parlia
mentary group, and saying that they had
not understood quickly enough the change
in the international situation, dividing the
world into two camps, or drawn the neces
sary conclusions as to internal policy.
They had not pointed out with sufficient
force that the dismissal of the Communist
Ministers from the Government last May
‘ ; was simply in execution of American
instructions.” The communique issued
after this meeting said that Socialists and
Gaullists were united on the essential
points of anti-Communism and acceptance
of American domination; and that Com
munist policy must now appeal directly to
the masses and work for the formation of
a Communist-led Government.
M. Ramadier's Government is thus in a
precarious position. The unity of the ele
ments on which it rests is a negative unity
brought about by dislike of the extremes to
Right and Left rather than a positive unity
in support of a programme. In fact, the
Government’s new lease of life is not
expected to be long and it will no doubt be
continually beset with social problems and
labour troubles arising from Communist
willingness to exploit the justified discon
tent of the workers. There is, however, no
immediate likelihood of General de Gaulle
coming to power since he will not accept
office until the Constitution has been
revised. The M.R.P., whence General de
Gaulle might be expected to draw many
supporters in the Assembly, has decided to
support M. Ramadier for the present, and
its members are not anxious to hasten a
general election in which many of them
might lose their seats.
The final results of the municipal elec
tions are not yet known, but the interesting
fact has emerged that practically all the
Communist mayors have been eliminated,
often by the refusal of the newly elected
Socialist councillors to vote for them; it
remains true, however, that the total Com
munist vote has shown litt]e change.
The Government has been enlarged by
the appointment of three Secretarie.^of
State : M. Andre Maroselli (Radical) Tor
Armed Forces, M. Jean Letourneau
(M.R.P.) for Reconstruction, and M. Albert
Forcinal (U.D.S.R.) for Ex-Servicemen.
Two Under-Secretaries have also been
appointed, M. Eugene Thomas (Socialist)
to assist the Prime Minister and M.
Dupraz (M.R.P.) for Armaments.
Frenchmen were dismayed to learn on
the 2nd November that the restrictions on
electricity consumption are to be still
further increased as from the 7th Novem
ber. Industrial consumers will have to
stagger their hours of work, and the
domestic consumer will not only have no
current at all from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. two days
a week, as at present, but will also be
deprived of it either from 7 to 9 a.m. or
from 6 to 8 p.m. on the four other working
days.
SWITZERLAND
The results of the National Council elec
tions (see Summary No. 415) show small
Radical gains at the expense of the
Socialists, who also suffered to some extent
by the re-emergence of the Communists
whose party was banned in 1940. Of the
194 seats all but one are now definite. The
position of the parties is :—
Radical-Democrat:
51 (6 gains; 2 losses)
Socialist:
Catholic-Conserva
48 (2
. Q
)
tive :
44 (3
>, ; 2 „
)
Peasant:
21 (1
)
Liberal-Democrat:
7 (
)
)
Democrat:
Parti du Travail
5 (
... 1 „
(Communist) :
7 (7
55 5 • • •
)
Independent:
8 (2
55 5 • • •
)
Other parties :
2 (1
. X
55 5 ^ 55
)
Most of the Communist support came from
Geneva and Lausanne. It is extremely un
likely that the composition of the present
Government of 3 Radicals, 2 Conserva
tives, 1 Peasant and 1 Socialist will be
affected by the election results.
From the 15th November visas will no
longer be required for entry into Switzer
land and Liechtenstein from citizens of