1.
G.V. Palace Bourbon.


2.
S.V.Angle Shot. Ditto.


3.
S.V. Public waiting to enter National Assembly.


4.
Top V. M. Pflimlin walking to rostrum.


5.
S.Top V. M. Pflimlin speaking.


6.
G.Top V. Assembly listening.


7.
S.Top V. Ditto.


8.
S.Top V. M. Pflimlin speaking.


9.
G.Top V. M. Ditto. finishes-walks from rostrum.




Initials S-D J.H./P.B.



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The first indication of the fall of the Pflimlin Government was witnessed during the early hours of Wednesday morning, May 28th., when a vote on the Government's Constitutional Reform Bill was taken. Premier Pflimlin had the agreement of the Assembly with 408 votes for and 165 against. Subtracting the favourable vote of the Communist Deputies, 149, M. Pflimlin, leader of the 24th. government of the Fourth Republic, had a net vote of 259, he needed 296, for his bill. On the basis of this vote he handed his resignation to President Coty, thus laying the way open for Gen. De Gaulle.

Earlier, on Monday, 26th May, the Government passed a motion raising the parliamentary immunity of M. Pascal Arrighi, the Deputy who on the previous Saturday flew from Algiers to Corsica, with Col. Thamos, Gen. Maseu's personal representative, and set up the insurrectional Committee of Public Safety at Ajaccio. The vote was 428 for and 119 against. Previous to this motion the Assembly agreed to unseated those Deputies whose parliamentary immunity had been raised. This drastic action was the Government's first action against the Corsican insurrection.

In the capital, Paris, and in Marseilles there have been transport strikes, led by the Communist Federation of Labour. In Marseilles the situation became comical as Communist bus and tram drivers brought the vehicle into the garages and the pro-De Gaulle workers took them out again.

As far as the question, who follows Pflimlin? is concerned it is considered inevitable that if W. Goty and the Prime Minister honour their promise believed to have been made to Gen. De Gaulle, the General will be summoned to the Elysees Palace noon.

In Algeria there has been a continuous call for De Gaulle over the radio, with the fall of the Government earlier on Wednesday this call has reached a pitch of hysteria.