EXTRACT FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01443R000200330015-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 15, 2003
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: September 28, 1946
• Content Type: MISC

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EXTRAGT FRC7M THE CONSTI'T'UTION QF THE FRENGH REPUBLIC
(Sept. 28, 194b)
Art. 49. A question of confidence may not be put except after discussion
by the council of ministers; it can be put only by the president of the council.
(The Premier) .
The vote on a question of confidence may nvt be taken until one fu1.1 day
after it has been put before the assembly. It shall be taken by a roll call.
The cabinet may not be refused a vote of confidence except by an absolute
majority of the deputies in the assembly.
Refusal to give such a vote shall automatically result in the collective
resignation of the cabinet.
Art. 50. Passage of a motion of censure by the National Assembly
shall automatically result in the collective resignation of the cabinet.
The vote on such a motion cannot be taken until one full day after it has
been made. It must be taken by a roll call.
A motion of censure may be adopted only by an absolute majority of the
deputies in the a s s ernb.ly.
Art. 51. If in the course of an eighteen-month period two minusterial
crises occur under the conditions set forth in Articles 49 and 50, the council
of ministers with the concurrence of the president of the assembly (Le Trocquet)
may decide to dissolve the National Assembly (Mayer fell 5(21/53) . Its dissolution
shall be proclaimed by a decree of the President of the Republic, in accordance
with such decision.
The provisions of the preceding paragraph may not be applied before
the expiration of the first eighteen months of the legislature.
Art. 52. In case of dissolution, the cabinet, with the exception of the
president of the council and the minister of the interior, shall remain in office
to carry out current business.
The President of the Republic shall appoint the president of the National
Assembly as president of the council. The latter shall appoint the new minister
of the interior with the approval of the secretariat of the National Assembly. He
shall appoint as ministers of state members of party groups not represented in the
government.
General elections shall take place not less than twenty and not more than
thirty days after the dissolution.
~'he National Assembly shall convene by right on the third Thursday after
its election.
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expecta-
tion heavy Viet Minh delta campaign.
A. Redeployment battle corps
nearing completion.
B. Viet Minh {'c"ombat strength -
66 , 500 . L> ~ l~'~" ~~'`'tu~
NU tai
C. French combat strength -
97,700.
II.I (piecemeal use of divisions,
not mass assault.
III. Indications French may withdraw to
Haiphong.
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enemy trying keep French off
balance while building up own
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A. Cogny fears inability hold
Hanoi, says rather than
another Dien Bien Phu he
would withdraw-to Haiphong.
$. manor attack
would force French withdrawal
within 30 days -- city low on
coal and rice supplies.
IV. Continued attacks expected meanwhile
on Hanoi-Haiphong routes and in
southern delta.
A. Cutting of Hanoi's supply
routes to be intensified.
B. Three-regiment Viet Minh
task farce organized to
take Phu Ly.
forces for major operations.
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VI. Ely-Salan team may indicate French
hope for early settlement.
A. Ely essentially staff officer.
B. Salan's defensive'mindedness.
C. Salan possibly chosen to
administer armistice.
D. This connection, Dupont (new
minister Associated States)
favors partition at Col de
Nuages, north of Tourane.
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Approved For Release 2003/08/26 :CIA-RDP80R01443R000200330015-9