Man in the Wings

Since the Fourth Republic was launched in December 1946, Charles de Gaulle has loitered not too patiently in the wings, waiting for his chance to make a grand entrance on the French political scene. In recent months he has lived quietly at his home in Colombey-les-deux-Eglises, leaving occasionally for speeches or visits to his headquarters in Paris, entertaining party strategists and army men. But when Georges Bidault of the M.R.P. (Popular Republicans) became Premier last month, rumors proliferated about a possible deal between Bidault and De Gaulle.

A close associate of the general in postliberation days, Bidault said last spring: "We are ready to rally around the prodigious name of General de Gaulle." No Gaullist deputy had voted against Bidault when he formed his new government. . Into this situation the newspaper L'Epoque, right-wing but not Gaullist, last week tossed a sensational story. In a signed front-page article, Editor Andre Bougenot declared: "Several important political personalities were recently shown the text of a secret protocol, signed by General de Gaulle and Georges Bidault." The deal, according to Bougenot, was that Bidault, if he became Premier, would prevent any pther government from succeeding his own. This would bring about dissolution of the Assembly, and new elections. The M.R.P. and De Gaulle's party would then join forces under an antiCommunist, strong-government banner, and would, if they won the election, install themselves in power.

In Paris this week, after both Gaullists and the M.R.P. had denied the story, Charles de Gaulle'held a press conference. He called for electoral reforms, proposed a Europe-wide referendum on a European union, attacked the Western foreign ministers for not doing a better job of bringing about a French-German understanding (see INTERNATIONAL). When a newsman asked him about L'Epoque's story, De Gaulle said noncommittally: "I don't sign any protocols; I invite all Frenchmen, regardless of rank and creed, to rally around me in the best interests of the nation."

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