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Since Liberation, the premiership has been
that drastic political action might become pos-
held by eight men, the first four of whom (De
sible in the ensuing confusion and hardship.
Gaulle, Gouin, Bidault, and Blum) also held
Under these conditions, Ramadier made way
the provisional rank of President. Since the
for Schuman, a member of the more conserva-
founding of the Fourth Republic the premiers
tive MRP, with results which were surprising
have been Paul Ramadier, Socialist (January
to the majority of Frenchmen and to the West-
to November 1947), Robert Schuman, MRP
ern Powers. Schuman proceeded at once to
(November 1947 to July 1948), and Andre
take the necessary anti-Communist steps
Marie, Radical-Socialist (July 1948 to August
which his predecessor had rejected. He im-
1948), Schuman again for a few days, and
mediately passed a series of decrees which af-
Henri Queuille, Radical Socialist (September
firmed the right to work, which specified the
1948-).
punishments of sabotage, and which made it
The work of the first four men was provi-
possible to call up the troops should the situ-
sional in every sense. Not only was the nation
ation get beyond the control of the police. At
in a state of semi-chaos, but, in the absence of
the same time, the government, partly be-
an elected national government and a Consti-
cause of the presence of foreigners in the
tution, no long-range or even strong short-
picket lines, succeeded in convincing the strik-
range measures could be taken. During this
ers that they were being used as the tools of
period extensive US economic aid helped to
foreign political interests and that those in-
counterbalance Communist political pressure,
terests were not primarily concerned with the
and although the Communist strength was
betterment of their working and living con-
considered remarkable and ominous in the
ditions. The strikes ceased on 10 December
first elections, and the Communist popular
1947, and Schuman was clear for the moment
vote did rise during this period, the country
to attack directly the basic economic problems
as a whole did not show a willingness to accept
which underlay not only the strikes but the
the leadership of Moscow.
power of the Communists.
The real existence of the Fourth Republic
In early 1948, one of the most important
began with the election of President Auriol
political events of the year occurred. As a re-
and the selection of Ramadier as head of the
sult of the disastrous general strikes there was
Cabinet. The Premier was confronted with
a split in the trade union movement, with the
an economy which could not sustain the mini-
Force Ouvrière (FO) group breaking away
mum food requirements of the nation, with
from the Confederation Général du Travail.
inflation, and with an able opponent in Mau-
The scission developed into a cleavage between
rice Thorez, the Communist leader who was
the only two important parties of the Left, the
also Vice-Premier. Ramadier's position was
Socialists (FO) and the Communists.
not made easier by the fact that the French
Both Ramadier and Blum had attempted to
military services were almost useless except to
halt the rise in prices by "shock treatment"
maintain public order at home. In May 1947,
which took the form of sudden announcement
however, the Premier's hand was strengthened
of price cuts and appeals for popular coopera-
and a new epoch begun when his decision to
tion. Their efforts had momentary effects but
oust the Communist Ministers from the Cabi-
left unsolved the causes of inflation. Schu-
net was enforced by President Auriol.
man, on the other hand, took steps toward
Ramadier's tenure of office was brought to
balancing the budget. He imposed supertaxes
a close during a series of "generalized" strikes
which were designed, among other things, to
in mid-November, planned by the Communists
force the farmers to bring out their hoarded
to break out in a variety of industries over a
gold; he withdrew the 5,000 franc notes from
period of several days and in such a manner
circulation; and he established a free market
as to suggest that they were spontaneous ex-
in gold and devaluated the franc under an
pressions of the working classes. Once these
elaborate system which was aimed at permit-
were well launched, it was anticipated that an
ting France to compete in world markets, and
over-all general strike could be declared and
at the same time stimulating the lucrative
ECRET
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"ocrText": "SECRET\n9\nSince Liberation, the premiership has been\nthat drastic political action might become pos-\nheld by eight men, the first four of whom (De\nsible in the ensuing confusion and hardship.\nGaulle, Gouin, Bidault, and Blum) also held\nUnder these conditions, Ramadier made way\nthe provisional rank of President. Since the\nfor Schuman, a member of the more conserva-\nfounding of the Fourth Republic the premiers\ntive MRP, with results which were surprising\nhave been Paul Ramadier, Socialist (January\nto the majority of Frenchmen and to the West-\nto November 1947), Robert Schuman, MRP\nern Powers. Schuman proceeded at once to\n(November 1947 to July 1948), and Andre\ntake the necessary anti-Communist steps\nMarie, Radical-Socialist (July 1948 to August\nwhich his predecessor had rejected. He im-\n1948), Schuman again for a few days, and\nmediately passed a series of decrees which af-\nHenri Queuille, Radical Socialist (September\nfirmed the right to work, which specified the\n1948-).\npunishments of sabotage, and which made it\nThe work of the first four men was provi-\npossible to call up the troops should the situ-\nsional in every sense. Not only was the nation\nation get beyond the control of the police. At\nin a state of semi-chaos, but, in the absence of\nthe same time, the government, partly be-\nan elected national government and a Consti-\ncause of the presence of foreigners in the\ntution, no long-range or even strong short-\npicket lines, succeeded in convincing the strik-\nrange measures could be taken. During this\ners that they were being used as the tools of\nperiod extensive US economic aid helped to\nforeign political interests and that those in-\ncounterbalance Communist political pressure,\nterests were not primarily concerned with the\nand although the Communist strength was\nbetterment of their working and living con-\nconsidered remarkable and ominous in the\nditions. The strikes ceased on 10 December\nfirst elections, and the Communist popular\n1947, and Schuman was clear for the moment\nvote did rise during this period, the country\nto attack directly the basic economic problems\nas a whole did not show a willingness to accept\nwhich underlay not only the strikes but the\nthe leadership of Moscow.\npower of the Communists.\nThe real existence of the Fourth Republic\nIn early 1948, one of the most important\nbegan with the election of President Auriol\npolitical events of the year occurred. As a re-\nand the selection of Ramadier as head of the\nsult of the disastrous general strikes there was\nCabinet. The Premier was confronted with\na split in the trade union movement, with the\nan economy which could not sustain the mini-\nForce Ouvrière (FO) group breaking away\nmum food requirements of the nation, with\nfrom the Confederation Général du Travail.\ninflation, and with an able opponent in Mau-\nThe scission developed into a cleavage between\nrice Thorez, the Communist leader who was\nthe only two important parties of the Left, the\nalso Vice-Premier. Ramadier's position was\nSocialists (FO) and the Communists.\nnot made easier by the fact that the French\nBoth Ramadier and Blum had attempted to\nmilitary services were almost useless except to\nhalt the rise in prices by \"shock treatment\"\nmaintain public order at home. In May 1947,\nwhich took the form of sudden announcement\nhowever, the Premier's hand was strengthened\nof price cuts and appeals for popular coopera-\nand a new epoch begun when his decision to\ntion. Their efforts had momentary effects but\noust the Communist Ministers from the Cabi-\nleft unsolved the causes of inflation. Schu-\nnet was enforced by President Auriol.\nman, on the other hand, took steps toward\nRamadier's tenure of office was brought to\nbalancing the budget. He imposed supertaxes\na close during a series of \"generalized\" strikes\nwhich were designed, among other things, to\nin mid-November, planned by the Communists\nforce the farmers to bring out their hoarded\nto break out in a variety of industries over a\ngold; he withdrew the 5,000 franc notes from\nperiod of several days and in such a manner\ncirculation; and he established a free market\nas to suggest that they were spontaneous ex-\nin gold and devaluated the franc under an\npressions of the working classes. Once these\nelaborate system which was aimed at permit-\nwere well launched, it was anticipated that an\nting France to compete in world markets, and\nover-all general strike could be declared and\nat the same time stimulating the lucrative\nECRET"
}