THE POPULAR FRONT

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 84, 9 April 1938, Page 9

THE POPULAR FRONT

FOURTH GOVERNMENT

THE FINANCIAL DRIFT

M. Blum's was the fourth Government since the Popular Front came into office on May 6, 1936. M. Leon Blum was the first Prime Minister, and remained in office until the end of June last, when he resigned because of Senate rejection of the Government's request for special financial powers which the Chamber of Deputies had already granted. M. Chautemps had twice previously been Prime Minister, first in 1930, when his tenure of 'office lasted only 24 hours, and again in 1934, when his Government was overthrown by the Stavisky scandal. When M. Blum formed his Popular Front Cabinet in 1936, M. Chautemps, as one of the most prominent members of the Radical Socialist Party, was- appointed Minister of State without portfolio, in which office he exercised considerable influence by co-operation with M. Delbos on the formation of French foreign policy. When M. Blum resigned as a result of an impasse over the financial crisis, M. Chautemps again took office. His term, however, was a turbulent one. Industrial unrest has continued, and, in November, the Cagoulards' plot was discovered. The modification of the 40-hour week was decided upon, to enable French production to be speeded up, and further strikes occurred. At the beginning of January M. Chautemps announced that the Government was resolved to end the wave of labour disputes which, were endangering the prosperity and security of France. He resigned, but was called on to succeed himself. COMMUNISTS' POSITION. When M. Chautemps resigned in January he made it plain that he would rather that the Communists and extreme Socialists did not vote with the Government if they intended to continue their underground agitation for exchange control, uncovered expenditure and support of strikers who defied the law, seized factories, and broke contracts. He insisted that in return for the benefits of the Labour Code, which was being prepared, unions should cease to flout the law. There had been a new flight from the franc, not because of any tangible evidence of financial weakness, .but because continued unrest had shaken faith in the future. M. Chautemps was entrusted with the formation of another Government, as stated above, after others had failed to gain support enough for a Ministry. But early last month he resigned again, after another conflict over the issue of "full powers" to deal with the economic and financial situation and assure the success of the forthcoming armaments loan. The Socialists refused to grant these powers and the Premier wanted to resign forthwith, but was persuaded to go before the Chamber and invite a vote. THE STREAM OF LOANS. M. Chautemps told the Chamber that the country could not go on borrowing at the rate of 30,000,000,000 francs a year (about £250,000,000), and that in order to deal with this situation it was inevitable that he should ask for full powers such as had' f several times been given to previous C Governments. "1 in no way renounce r the hope of reforms," he said, "but i what I desire is that the Government g

shall judge whether a given proposal is possible or whether it is too heavy a burden for the public finances." Without waiting for a debate or a vole, the Premier walked out of the Cham|ber and presented his resignation to President Lebrun. The President called on M. Blum to form a Cabinet and the Socialist leader declared that he would do his utmost to constitute a "stable, durable, and powerful Government of democratic elements as demanded by the circumstances." The Communists met and declined to give him support until they saw his programme, the Radical Socialists met and came to the same decision. In the negotiations it became clear, according to observers, that the Popular Front majority with which M. Blum came to office, a combination of Radical Socialists (Liberals), Socialists, and" Communists did not exist any longer save as a pale shadow of itself or a screen behind which to

manoeuvre.