A Danger Scotched

The absurd and dangerous mockery of Communist Frederic Joliot-Curie at the head of France's Atomic Research Commission (TIME, April 17) came to an end last week. Premier Georges Bidault announced, "with regret," the dismissal of the Red nuclear physicist. "Whatever the qualifications of this scientist," said the Premier, "his public statements and his unreserved acceptance of the [pro-Russian] resolutions . . . of the Communist Party make it impossible to maintain him in his functions of High Commissioner."

The dismissal of Joliot-Curie did not yet mean a security housecleaning in the Republic's government. He had put a lot of his comrades on the Atomic Commission, and the government had made no move to oust them. France's feeble government had not acted on its own initiative; Bidault had merely reacted "with regret" to repeated kicks in the teeth by the Communist Party, which was, through a campaign of riots and threats, menacing the security of France.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.