Word: laniel
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...president of France's national defense council, commander in chief of the Central European forces of NATO. For publicly and roundly condemning the proposed European Army (which he was likely to command if it should máterialize), blunt, impetuous Marshal Juin was summoned personally by Premier Joseph Laniel to the Hotel Matignon to give an account of his actions...
Juin refused to come. How about Thursday? Laniel suggested. "Impossible," said Juin. "I have to go to Germany...
...Laniel waited, nevertheless, confident that Juin would change his imperious mind and obey at the last moment. A clock chimed 7 p.m. No Marshal Juin. 7:15 p.m.: a bustle in the courtyard, and Defense Minister Pleven arrived. At 7:45 p.m., Laniel and Pleven walked out to the Premier's car. "Is Marshal Juin coming?" a waiting newsman asked. "No comment," said Laniel. The ministers drove to the Elysee Palace to confer with President Coty. Afterwards, Laniel summoned an emergency Cabinet meeting...
Jostled Premier. All France rocked at the news. Gaullists booed and catcalled; Communists discovered that "militarist Juin" was really a fellow citizen resisting EDC. Premier Laniel had to stand before the excited National Assembly to justify his government's decision. "There is no question of being for or against EDC," he explained. "It is simply a matter of whether a servant of the state owes obedience to the state...
...Premier Joseph Laniel, obsessed by a grande passion to stay in office, refused again to set a date for the Assembly's debate on the treaty, and thereby served notice that his government will not agree to German sovereignty before the Geneva Conference (April 26)-if ever...