THE BIRTH HATE IN FRANCE

Evening Star, Issue 15240, 19 July 1913, Page 11

THE BIRTH HATE IN FRANCE

W. Leon Bourgeois delivered an important speech at the opening of a Conggrevs for ,Social Hygiene on May 14, in which he discussed the, question of the birth and. death rates in Franco, The country, lie. said, was threatened with two dangers, a foreign and a domestic one. It was prepared lor every sacrifice in the cause of nation:;! security from foreign attack, but it must also seriously consider' danger which arose from tho decline in I no birth-rate and from the continuance of the comparatively high death-rate. A century ago France within her present frenders contained 16 per cent, of (he population of Europe, while to-dav she had only 9 per cent, of that population. \et tho French abroad, in Canada and in .Algeria, for example, increased more ’.apully than any of the races that were their neighbors.' The- death-rate in England and in Connnny had undergone a. remaikablo diminution in recent Years, while in France it still averaged 22-.5 per 1.000. Tuberculosis was unfortunately more deadly in France than in neighboring countries, and. alcoholism was likewise a terrible scourge. Legislation could, not furnish any adequate remedy. A moral crusade and a methorncal and constant agitation were necessary in order that the- most ignorant and rclractory sections of the population

■might be awakened to the national poll!. LlTorts were being made to give hvgienm inetiuctioß In tho olementary schools. but bo regretted to say that in this respect secondary schools left much to Ixs dcsio’d. He made bold to say that in the- Lycoes young people wore told nothing at all of the duties of their class as regards personal, family, and national health. It was imperative that France should at all costs adopt measures for securing tho future of her children in respect of numbers, health, and material and moral sigor, otherwise the sacrifices which she was resolved to make for the defence, of her frontiers and the glory of her name were destined to remain sterile.