FROM A PARIS WINDOW.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 176, 26 July 1919, Page 22

FROM A PARIS WINDOW.

HOr?IXG THE LEAGUE. PARIS, April 2S. Strongly resented i≤ the choice of Geneva instead of Brussels a? the future tome of the League of Nations. Belgium tad not only founded that league by her gallantry in 1914, but nu-gnificent iy eanctioned the covenant by her sacrifices. When the decision had been taken, a Belaian political man at the Hotel Lotti," where the Belgian officials have their quarters, spoke this bitter utterance-. '-"President Wilson has so far abetained irom coining to visit our mar- ( tyred country, and we interpreted the fact to his credit as a discreet remorse lor his silence in 1014. I v - ot advise him now to make the visit." As j to the personal conditions which France; is to obtain by the treaty, thanks, be it said, to the 'strong backing up of her rights by England, public opinion is at • last relieved "and satined. A privilege!, payment to this country, which was | prfrilesed in suffering; not a German i soldier" on the left bank of the Rhine, hut not an inch of German soil nor sub- 1 soil to be annexed. Thus are interests j and principles happily wedded ; the j national feelinsr and the democratic conscience placated, ilay I add that the French people cannot conceive that "Tommy" should not keep the on j the Rhine alongside with 'Toihr? The , Bhine is Britain's military frontier as ■well as ours. FIRST OF 3IAY DEMOXSTRATIOXS. Serious social disturbances will probably be escaped on the Ist of May: first." because the Government has granted Labour the principle of eight hours' work: second, because the clever | decision of the conference to iiesrin dis- j cussion in Versailles with the German delesation within a few days has made it a moral impossibility for the Socialists —or the Bolsheviks and Anarchists in their trail —to run the risk of a scandal at such ?. moment: third, because the Government is taking strong measures of safety. As a comic strain in the symphony, a •new paper is to appear with its title in blank, the censorship having vetoed the proposal to style it "The Bolshevist." A mere freak in our purgatorio. THE HUMBERT TREASON TRIAL. The Humbert case is taking the course which I foretold you. All the evidence solicitated by the Government is turning in the man's favour. President Poincare has corrected his first statement against him; Mme. de Rochebrune has been convicted of fake witness to his detrement. and not been arrested on the spot, a≤ she should have been; and ilr. Jacques Dhur, the former editor of "L'Eveil," Humbert's bitter enemy in journalistic circles, was placed in a very had position when his scheme of a campaign against England was revealed; the old scheme of the pro-Germans. Unless something unforeseen, happens, Humbert will get off easily.

THE FUXK OF FOXCK. Interviewed, by the "Matin," , the cham'plon Frencii airman Fon-ck expresses himself as sadly concerned regarding ccui!try"s future. It is this *' ace's" opinion that in demobilising her aerial service, France is flying to ruin, to use a paradox. The armistice caD»e just in time, says the intrepid man of 70 victories in the air, to cancel a gigantic aerial offensive against German towns, all of which were to be reduced to ruins With such an aeroplane fleet as was to he ready for this devastating work, France must reckon in the future, for our enemies will surely launch some such destructive expedition in time to come. To prevent this, France must keep the supremacy of the air by outbuilding all other nations in aerial craft. With a preponderating aerial force, France will not only secure her own safety, but assure a lasting peace. Fonck has thus enlightened the Germans to possibilities which mar have escaped them. Nevertheless, this heroic aerial combatant seems very pessimistic-. AX "OFFENSIVE AGAKST THE STOMACH." From the Ken" Year automobile petrol has -been procured in uncontrolled quantities. On the other hand, many foodstuffs are becoming very scarce. M. Beret, the Food Controller, announces a echeme -which consists of using his rigat to requisition most aliments as they appear, and reserving them " for future U3e," Prices, in consequence, rise, and Paris is left with shorter ration than tvas the case when the Germans were at Chateau Thierry. Whichever way one looks at it. the food situation does not seem to be on the road to amelioration. True, there is not only the feeding of France's restored departments to attend to. but the replenishing of starving countries. But why is M. Beret hoarding all supplies with eueh frugal secrecy? Paris is anxious to know the cause of this "offensive against her stomach," as she terms the Food Controllers action. NATIONAL RESTAURANTS. Tn some populous districts of Paris the system of national meals was inaugurated yesterday at a number of restau- 1 rants frequented by working people and others of modest means. Owing to the arrangements made by the Government Provisions Department. these restaurants were able to offer to their customers a variety of palatable dishes at prices which averaged 30 per cent less than those charged latterly. At one well-known eatinghouse in the heart of the Latin Quarter a tempting plate of ham was obtainable for lfr 20c, while a portion of excellent beef served with Burgundy sauce cost lfr 30c. Kice, cooked to a turn, and sent to the table in the "au gras" style that French people favour, was sold for 65 centimes. These prices compare favourably with those charged in another part of the same establishment, where national meals are not served. There ham costs 3fr 90c. beef ofr 90c, rice lfr 50c. In other restaurants where prices normally range lower, only 90 centimes was charged for national beef. In similar restaurants the price yesterday was lfr 20c for such a dish. Profiteering is still rife in Paris, as was rt-alised yesterday by the police official who visited the establishment of Henry Doubiiik, a Russian, who had dealt extensively in such products as sugar and chocolate, without any regard for official prices. Doubiak had just illicitly received delivery of 1000 kilogrammes of chocolate, when the police entx-red his place in the rue Xotre Dame de Lorette, and conveyed him to the lock-up.