France went into the second month without a new government, and still its political revolving door creaked on. All week, would-be Premiers tried to wheedle the haggling center parties into a compromise, glancing nervously over their shoulders at General Charles de Gaulle, waiting to spurt into power if he gets the chance.
¶Maurice Petsche, 55, hard-working Independent making his second try at forming a government, pleaded with the Assembly for unity. "Can we remain without a government," he asked, "at a time when ... a new balance of power is emerging in the Pacific? Can we go, insufficiently prepared, to...