Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, TUESDAY, FEB. 19, 1935. THE NEW FRANCE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18634, 19 February 1935, Page 6

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, TUESDAY, FEB. 19, 1935. THE NEW FRANCE

One of tlie host promises that this now year offers is that it will be a year of growing appeasement in international diplomacy, and this hope is strengthened by tlie change that has come over France. For the last few years the Republic has been rocked by political disturbances, witli many changes of Ministry. When the strong man, M. Doumerguo, “the saviour of France,” beloved by all the people, departed, with a sigh ol regret that lie had failed to reconcile the, warring elements in Parliament, it was feared that grave (roubles would ensue. Fortune, however, was kind. There stepped inlo the breach a man of considerable personality, M.. Flandin, who with a brilliant colleague as Foreign Minister and a patriotic and united Cabinet, has succeeded in winning 11re confidence of the nation and the respect of foreign Powers. The Government immediately set itself the task of restoring confidence at home and removing suspicion abroad—a mighty task in which, according to English correspondents, it has so far commanded an amazing measure of success. The nation Ims stabilised its finances, ad* justed a troublesome budget, cleaned out its scandalous corners, liberalised its banking system, and restored 1o its citizens a sense of faith and personal wellbeing. Where (here was hysteria '.here is now calm, a 1 'Anglaisc, In European diplomacy France has resumed pride of place by reason of her willingness to approach Germany in a spirit of re I resiling cordiality and her anxiety to establish an entente with Italy. “Only a country sure of itself and certain of its prestige,” says one correspondent, “could make such advance to the goal of its own security and international peace. ’ ’ Hitherto there have been two rival tendencies among those concerned with French foreign policy—the first towards coming to terms oitli Germany and including her in a system of European reconciliation and the second towards constructing a system of protection against Germany,

whose, good faith in any possible arrangement is distrusted. “There is no doubt,” writes another correspondent, “that, the Quai d’Orsny since the arrival of M. Laval has been more disposed to maintain the peace of Europe by co-operation with Britain and Ttalv in order to reach an understanding with Germany than during the time of M. Barthou, who relied rather upon a protective chain of alliances against the German danger.” It is impossible to go so far n« to say that M. Laval has entirely coni-, mitted himself to what may be called the pro-German view. He has signed, a protocol with Russia" which hinds both countries to abstain from direct negotiations with Germany ponding the conclusion of an Eastern Locarno, and in collaboration with the Ministers of England and Italy has helped to devise measures calculated to bring Germany once more into tho fold of the League of Nations. One of the greatest triumphs of M. Laval is that lie should have been able to reach agreement with Signor Mussolini over a matter that has been so fruitful of rivalry and suspicion for many years, the question of equality of status as colonising Powers in Africa. Agreement here was facilitated by a mutual desire to preserve the security and independence of Austria, M. Laval sacrificed none of France’s Continental alliances in reaching a “new deal” with Rome. On the contrary it was felt, in Paris that. Italy by proposing with France to guarantee Austria’s frontiers and assure respect for her national territorial integrity in reality ends Jugoslavia’s fears of a •fresh Italian threat, crushes German dreams of an Anschluss with Austria, and preserves French interests in tho ■ountries of the Little Entente. The outlook in foreign policy is calmer than it was, thanks mainly to the wise statesmanship that divested the Sarr issue of its aspect of a Franco-German struggle and to the rapproachement with Italy. Under French leadership the search for security is being steadily extended, and during the current year the relations between France and Soviet Russia will probably lie further developed. The fear that the fall of M. Doumorguc might lead to grave political difficulties has proved illusory. M. Flandin is as firmly in the saddle as French political conditions ever allow. On vital questions his majority has never fallen below .100; only once it dropped to 105. Among all classes there is a new spirit of unity. The voices of malcontents are drowned in a chorus of approval which has rewarded the Flandin Administration’s “policy of action” as distinct from the traditional “policy of words.” The ordinany citizen, says one commentator, feels that, at last there are strong and efficient, and if need be inexorable hands guiding the ship of state into smooth water. Although much of tho reform programme has been completed, a great deal has yet to bo accomplished. At the moment, for example, there arc plans to remove judges from political influence, to bar Ministers from holding company directorates, and to reorganise the police forces so thoroughly that they will bo above suspicion. Such changes as these, taken in conjunction, with plans to co-ordinate industry and the alteration of the policy of the Bank of France making for the creation of a short-term loan market have given rise to a proper respect for authority and a renewal of true civic spirit.