FRANCE’S PREMIER AT HOME

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 May 1935, Page 11

FRANCE’S PREMIER AT HOME

FRENCH “DOWNING STREET.” E. H. Wilcox, “Daily Telegraph" Paris correspondent, writes: — Monsieur Pierre Etienne Flandin had just passed his first night in the Hotel Matignon when he received me there. His offices were installed in the building during his visit to London, but for weeks after that date the residential rooms were occupied only by masons, joiners, and paperhangers, and the rambling wings are- still redolent of fresh paint.

The present President of the Council—to give him his formal title—is the first holder of the post to have official quarters and a staff of his own.

In the past, a French Premier without a departmental portfolio was compelled to seek the hospitality of one of his colleagues. The decision to provide him with premises and officials of his own was taken by M. Doumergue’s Cabinet, but M. Flandin is the first to benefit from it. Fortunately, the changes made have not seriously diminished the charm of one of the most beautiful Baroque palaces of Paris, which has also its small place in history. Since the first quarter of the 18th century, when the Hotel Matignon was built, its panels and ceilings, with their delicate gilded tracery, have echoed the voices of many famous people. It has been a Royal residence, for the Duchesse d’Orleans lived there for some time after 1825, and the Comte de Paris 60 years later. At the outbreak of war it was the Austrian Embassy, and as such it fell under the ban of confiscation, and became the property of the French Government.

But its most remarkable tenant was undoubtedly the pardgon of timeservers, Talleyrand. In the room above that where M. Flandin received me, the Prince of Benevent daily mimicked the “petit lever” of Versailles, which inspired one of Taine’s most brilliant chapters. For nearly two hours every morning an elegant crowd of courtiers and parasites of both sexes looked on whilst the deformed feet of the ViceElector of the Empire were washed, his hair curled and powdered, and his clothes adjusted by a couple of valets. Or they sought the favour of a few words as he hobbled about in their midst.

The Premier’s working room is the least pretentious of four superb salons which occupy the ground floor of the main central two-storied building. Two windows, reaching almost to the lofty ceiling, look out on a bit of English park landscape. A vast expanse of green, dotted with bushes, stretches into a distance which is magnified by the haze of a grey morning. A fringe of tall trees screens the grass cn both sides and closes the vista with a barrier through which, even when there are no leaves, the houses beyond look like hills.

' HOW PREMIER WORKS. It is difficult to believe that one is almost within a stone’s throw of the Seine. “It is the biggest garden in Paris,” says M. Flandin, and one learns that its area is nearly seven and a-half acres. But many such peaceful cases, if of more modest dimensions, are still to be found in the once aristocratic quarter of Saint Germain. The appointments of the room are of the same period as the Hotel Matignon itself. They have been assembled from the inexhaustible stores of furnishings which the Republic has inherited from a score of Royal palaces. The eye is riveted at once by a florid Gobelin tapestry. But the time of the most responsible man in France is too precious to permit prolonged consideration of the background of his labours. His method of work is the real subject of inquiry, and with a frank simplicity, which at- once puts the visitor at his ease, the Premier readily answers all questions addressed to him. “You are said to enforce strict punctuality on all your officials. Is it permissible to infer that you yourself are severely precise in your methods of work?”

“I my case,” replied M. Flandin, “punctuality now depends largely on circumstances beyond my control. The head of a democratic Government cannot observe a strict routine when he has to deal with Parliament which sometimes meets at nine a.in. and sometimes sits throughout the night and adjourns only at two or three o’clock in the morning. As far as such conditions permit, I try to observe the punctuality which I demand from my staff, but in practice I new find that the only thing I never miss is the wireless broadcast.” “I mean the extracts from the Press, which are broadcast at 7.15 in the morning,” the President of the Council explained. “That is invaluable to me as a first basis for my day’s work, and I listen while I am dressing and shaving. Sometimes, also, I must admit, when I am still in bed. It gives me a brief summary of the news in the morning papers, and also of the leading articles. When I come down here, I find the broadcast supplemented by this.” M. Flandin took i;p the most conspicuous object from his primly tidy table, and handed it to me. It was a sheaf of twenty or thirty quarto sheets of paper, bound up in a light green jacket, which perhaps was chosen to match the delicate hue of the room’s upholstery.

The sheets were covered with newspaper cuttings and indexed, for the sake of rapid reference, with protecting tabs, indicating that the particular sections dealt with foreign affairs, domestic politics., science, literature, the aits and so on. “After a swift perusal of these pages,” said the Premier. "1 feel ready for my day’s work.” The room contained little else to indicate its tenant’s multifarious preoccupations or habits. It merely reflected a mind with a passion for order and a dislike tor everything foreign to the task of the moment. The absence of books, tiles and documentary litter arrested the attention at once. But an elaborate telephonic switchboard at the Premier’s left band aroused curiosity.

"Oh. that is only i or this building.” M. I*landin i eplied to :1 question. "The most important implement of my woik is this,” and ite pointed to an oidinury telephonic apparatus which stood on the table. CABINET’S PRIVATE LINE. "With this telephone, - ' he continued. "I am in direct communication with all the other members of the Cabinet. Special wiles connect them up with our own automatic iwcliniißp. >.i lii'.tt t can talk io them without the

slightest fear of our conversation beOn one subject, not quite pertinent to tho immediate object of my visit, I was anxious to hear the French 1 vernier's views from his own lips, “You have been a frequent visitor to our country," I remarked, “and one may doubtless conclude that you lind something there which appeals to you?” . . . Ai. Flandin's amiable features lightened up with an eloquent smile, and he replied iu a*tone of sincere cordiality: . “Oil. yes, 1 have a great admiration for your nation and for its ways of liie. Above all, I admire your national character, the calmness and detachment of your judgment, >gui grasp of essentials, the discipline which every Englishman imposes upon himself when the interests of his country aie at stake. It is not the ligid and unbending discipline, but a discipline which adapts itself to circumstances and knows when it must assert itself and when ii may relax.

“’1 hen your moderation and fairmindedness! These qualities are specially conspicuous in your politics. Yom Press and Pat liamentary criticism is confined to what really matters. No one in youi country would think of throw nig out a Government over a trifling error cf judgment, or a i city fault without real significance tor tin interests of the State.

"Unionunately, it Is not like that in Fiance. Here, no pretext for bringing down ;i Cabinet is too flimsy. That is o.ne of the chief causes of the const am (henges of Government which are the

lundamental political evil of cuntemI Haiy France. It is impossible for a Cal.'inct to obtain the necessary con troi and authoiitv over file adminisii.ti'Vc nun liim-i v when it i- oflice

at the longest. “Tiic moderation, the .self-restraint and the courtesy of your political life are things which 1 admire greatly — and which I envy as well," the Premier added with a sigh. “Perhaps you would like tc sec our Council Chamber.” M. Flandin rcmatked as I rose to leave. He opened doer ami revealed a long, panelled hall almost entirely tilled by a huge only a few week 3 , or a few month' -

| table and chairs surrounding it. ! “It is where the Cabinet, meetings I aie held.” he said. “This is our ! U. wning st reel, you see."