Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Western Europe, Volume VII, Part 2

26. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State⁰

Paris, June 23, 1958, 8 p.m.

6127.1. De Gaulle faced as were his predecessors with three major problems (not in order of importance): Constitutional reform, economic readjustment, and North African relations. Other important issues (east-west relations, European integration, administrative reform) must be dealt with, but first three will determine success or failure of De Gaulle experiment. This telegram will discuss constitutional reform and other problems will be subject separate telegrams.¹

2. Ministerial committee for constitutional reform meeting for first time this morning (June 23) under chairmanship Debre. This committee plans to develop first draft of constitution by end of July. Special constitutional consultative committee, made up of jurists and members of Assembly and Senate universal suffrage committees, will then examine government draft and give its advice. Council of State will also be consulted. Final government project will then be adopted by Cabinet by end of August. Referendum campaign will take place in September and referendum will probably be held September 28 or October 5.

3. Despite tremendous importance of constitutional reform for future of France, it must be realized this problem currently overshadowed by and in sense dependent on what happens in Algeria. Situation in North Africa is such that De Gaulle must make evident progress by end of summer in his eventual program for Algeria. To extent he successful in Algeria any constitutional text he likely to propose can reasonably be sure of obtaining comfortable majority in fall referendum in view general dissatisfaction with present regime. If he runs into serious difficulties in Algeria, however, events could conceivably deteriorate rapidly and outcome of referendum could be jeopardized.

4. There has been no further elucidation of de Gaulle’s constitutional ideas beyond indications reported Embtel 5938² sent Algiers 733. Increasing commentary, speculation, and criticism can be expected in coming weeks. Although there are few defenders of present system, it does not follow that mere modification of bad system equivalent to creating good one. Based on general reports so far of de Gaulle’s thinking, Embassy finds certain aspects encouraging: greater separation of responsibilities between executive and legislative, increased stability of executive, probable trend toward regrouping of political forces into smaller number of parties. Other features have met with criticism from different quarters. Among the more debated points are:

(A) Emphasis on building form of corporate state with various socio-economic groups wielding direct power independently of elected representatives of people as whole;

(B) Proposal that Assembly must designate successor government and program before it can overthrow current one. This could lead to form or immobilism by making virtually impossible change of government. Assembly might in that case prefer weak head of government rather than one who might later come into conflict with deputies;

(C) Concept of increasing power of President of Republic while retaining Premier in charge of Government. This is a system used by virtually no other major power today and recent historical precedents (e.g. Weimar Republic) not encouraging.

5. New constitution immediately raises problem of need for new Assembly and perhaps new President of Republic. It is generally believed in political circles here that new Assembly elections will be required and will probably be held at end of October or in November. In the event new presidential elections are held (on basis of enlarged college) this would probably be in December.

6. Assembly elections in turn raise problem of electoral law. De Gaulle government has committed itself not to include such law in constitution and not to enact one by virtue of special powers given to government for 6 months. There are many means, however, of making change. De Gaulle could include principle of new law in constitution, leaving drafting to Assembly, or he could simply have constitution include statement to effect law could be promulgated by governmental ordinance. It is generally believed (with little concrete evidence to date) that De Gaulle currently favors a majority system list voting by department with either one or two ballots.

7. There is also possibility present law might be maintained. De Gaulle might not wish to impose one and Assembly might be reluctant to discuss one as first item of business (on theory that this would make bad impression on electorate and thereby work against incumbents). In such case “apparentements” (party alliance system) which were directed against De Gaulle and Communists in 1951 and were largely ineffective in 1956 might be expected to play important role and assist Gaullists.

Houghton

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751.00/6–2358. Confidential. Repeated to Algiers.
1. Document 29 and telegram 6173 from Paris, June 25, which assessed the achievements of de Gaulle’s government during its first 3 weeks in power on the subject of North African relations. (Department of State, Central Files, 751.00/6–2558)
2. Telegram 5938 from Paris, June 13, discussed press speculation on what the broad lines of de Gaulle’s constitutional reform would be. (Ibid., 751.00/6–1358)