The Pahiatua Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, MAY 81, 1935. FRENCH CRISIS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12964, 31 May 1935, Page 4

The Pahiatua Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. F R IDAY , MAY 81, 1935. FRENCH CRISIS.

What must be considered an unusual achievement is the record put up by M. Flandin who has managed to hold the reins a® France’s Premier for a period of seven months, which is roughly three or four times the average tenure, of office in French' political circles. Rut a crisis is now upon hum. From a. problem merely monetary it has developed into a. political issue. and no one can tell which way the parties will split. The prospect of the present Government surviving this rupturei depends mainly upon the attitude of the Radical Socialists. If they remain loyal, well and good but their loyalty is being sorely tested by a new Bill before the Deputies which practically seeks the powers of a dictatorship. The aim of the Bill is to authorise the Government, until December 21, to enforce by decree ail the measures requisite for the defence of. the currency and economic restoration. This would be tantamount to a dictatorship in finance. The Socialist leader has protested strongly' and M. Horrjot is believed to be of the same opinion. As a. general election falls due in May, 1936 ft can be expected that the parties will commence sparring. In resisting drastic financial measures the Radical Socialists know they are in accord with French popular opinion which, is always strongly opposed either to heavy taxation or a severe curtailment of expenditure, M. Poincare, it will be remembered, balanced the Budget in 192 i by stern measures and was ousted at the ensuing election for liis pains. The present alarm of the public and the rush for gold springs from a fear of what steps may' have to be taken to end the crisis. The Budget is so very much out of balance that trade is suffering, a fact quite evident for the past three years. A growing movement tends towards the devaluation of the franc, hence ill# rush to convert into gold or other currencies.