Dexterous Fellow

FRANCE Dexterous Fellow Few expected Edgar Faure, France's 21st Premier since World War II, to last long in the job. But last week, when the National Assembly adjourned with him still in control, he could--and did --boast of a six-month record of achievements that few would have dared predict. For this he could in part thank the man who wasn't there--his old friend and now bitterest rival, ex-Premier Pierre Mendes-France.

For the Assembly was dominated less by the personality of owlish Edgar Faure than by fear of Mendes. Deputies feared that if they refused Faure, they might get Mendes back. Faure, with his genius for avoiding head-on collisions, was careful never to alarm the Deputies' touchy pride by threats, demands, or talking over their heads to the public. He did not once demand a vote of confidence.-- And every time he achieved quietly what Mendes had tried to do dramatically, Faure's durability increased, and the threat of Mendes' return diminished.

Home & Summit. Last week, reporting to a vacation-bound Assembly, Faure pointed out that though wages had been raised, living costs had held stable. Productivity was up 10.5% over last year, and 76% from prewar. If progress continues at this rate, said Faure proudly, France's standard of living will double in the next ten years.

In foreign affairs, Faure had pushed the Paris accords through the Senate to final ratification. He claimed credit for "taking the initiative"for the conference at the summit, and he had just gained added popularity among French neutralists by accepting an urgent invitation for himself and Foreign Minister Antoine Pinay to visit Moscow early in October.

In Tunisia, Faure told the Assembly, "home rule had been promised. It is now accomplished." But what the Deputies were waiting to hear was what Faure proposed to do about seething Algeria and Morocco. Each was well aware that two years ago, Premier Joseph Laniel had only waited until they left town before deposing Morocco's Sultan Ben Yussef and installing Sultan Ben Moulay Arafa in his stead. Now the diehards in the Assembly suspected Edgar Faure of only waiting for the same chance to depose weak-willed Sultan Ben Moulay Arafa in his turn.

Lawyer's Promise. At this point, Faure, one of France's best lawyers, was at his most skillful. France "does not intend to accede to any threat, intimidation or terrorism," said Faure ringingly, and added in the next breath that France was nevertheless "attached to a policy of evolution and reform." He promised that he would not "proceed by surprise or sensation," but, he added, he did not intend "to tie my hands or renounce my prerogatives of executive in advance." Their suspicions assuaged by these dexterous promises, the Deputies heard their tail-coated Speaker tell them to leave "discreetly" and with much pumping of hands and saying of au revoirs, departed, leaving Edgar Faure safely in office at least until they return in the fall.

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