Mollifier

The man with the almost unpronounceable name was back. Henri Queuille, the mousy little onetime doctor who, as Premier for 13 months (1948-49), had made a name for himself as a mollifier of warring factions, was again the head of a French government.

The Socialists had capriciously wrecked Georges Bidault's government (TIME, July 3). A few hours later, war broke out in Korea and France found itself vitally in need of a Foreign Minister with full credentials The Socialists would have liked to play hard-to-get a while longer, but they realized they would look like Neronic fiddlers if they prolonged the crisis in Paris. They would not accept Queuille's proposed "union coalition" of center parties, but they agreed not to oppose him.

Radical Socialist Queuille wound up with a strong team. He kept his Interior Ministry post and put M. Bidault in as Vice Premier. Able Robert Schuman stayed-on as Foreign Minister, to work on his pool plan for West European coal and steel. The new cabinet included an important new post, which was filled by Paul Reynaud: Minister of State for the Associated States of the French Union and for the Far East. Maurice Petsche was again appointed Finance Minister and Renee Mayer stayed on as the Minister of Justice.

Premier Queuille's first act was to endorse U.S. action in Korea. "We are setting to work," said he, "as men of good will who are thinking only of France."

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