PROSPECTS OF ELECTIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18679, 8 April 1924, Page 7

PROSPECTS OF ELECTIONS

FRANCE'S FOREIGN POLICY. A- and —Times. LONDON. April 6. 'The Paris correspondent of the Times discussing the French election prospects, says the country generally undoubtedly supports the foreign policy of the new. Government, and it is foreign, not domestic, policy which will be the principal issue. The French people are fully persuaded that Germany is wilfully and fraudulently evading reparation obligations with the result that they are now saddled with heavy new taxation to make up the budget deficits, which otherwise would not have arisen. They ask that Germany shall be made to pay, and! approve occupation of the Ruhr as a means of exerting pressure on Germany and compelling her to fulfil her obligations. Reparation and Allied problems are bound to be uppermost in the minds of electors when they go to the polls on May 11. The high hopes which the opponents of the Government entertained at the beginning of the year of fighting the election on the domestic affairs issue seem to be doomed to disappointment. For these and other reasons M. Poincare will almosij certainly be returned' with a substantial majority. .An amendment to the Pensions Bill moved in the Chamber of Deputies by the Radicals was lost by 327 rotes to 201. This was a test vote on the same issue which caused the defeat of the late Government on March 26. The present majority affords a truer reflex of the Government's position than the recent vote on the Ruhr policy, for which M. Poincare has invariably secured thumping majorities.