76. Editorial Note
France held its first National Assembly elections under the Fifth Republic on November 23 and 30. The Gaullist Union for the New Republic (UNR) won 188 seats; the National Center of the Independents (CNI), Rightists, also known as Moderates, 133 seats; the Popular Republican Movement or Catholic Center Group (MRP) and the Christian Democracy (CD), 57 seats; the French Socialist Party (SFIO), 41 seats; the Radicals and Center-Left, 37 seats; the Communists, 10 seats; and the Far Right or Poujadists, 1 seat. In telegram 2041 from Paris, December 1, Houghton wrote that the massive Gaullist vote was evidenced not only [Page 128] by UNR’s large success but also by the fact that the traditional parties, which took a pro-Gaullist stand, gained or held their own while those parties that took a negative or equivocal position, such as the Communists, Radicals, and Poujadists, were the main losers. (Department of State, Central Files, 751.00/12–158) In despatch 1052 from Paris, December 15, Kidder wrote a detailed analysis of the election. (Ibid., 751.00/12–1558)
On December 21, a special college of “grand electors” named General de Gaulle to a 7-year term as President of the Republic beginning January 8, 1959. In a December 23 message, Eisenhower wrote de Gaulle: “May I express my sincere congratulations on your election as President of the French Republic. I know that I speak in behalf of all the American people when I wish you continued success as the leader of the great country which we are proud to call our oldest ally.” This message was transmitted in telegram 2270 to Paris, December 23. (Ibid., 751.11/12–2358)