FRENCH MINISTRY

Southland Times, Issue 22157, 27 October 1933, Page 7

FRENCH MINISTRY

SARRAUT MAY BE PREMIER. (United Press Assn. —Telegraph Copyright.) Paris, October 25. M. Sarraut has been offered the Premiership. M. Sarraut is considered to be one of the ablest administrators in France to-day, first gaining full Cabinet rank under M. Poincare as Colonial Minister, a branch of State operations in which he has had considerable experience. He was born in Bordeaux 56 years ago, and when only a young man of 30 he was Under-Secretary of State for the Interior. His first move was to a similar position in the Ministry of War, where he remained for many years. In this post he organized the first aviation section of the French army, but it was in 1911 that he found himself and his career, when he was appointed Governor-General of IndoChina. The European mind regards the average subject native at something of a higher animal, relatively speaking; that is, he is higher than some animals, but lower than others, such as dogs and horses, for example. M. Sarraut punished promptly, meting out particularly severe penalties for crimes against humanity—humanity, be it understood, as defined by civilization. Returning to France, M. Sarraut outlined a dream he had encouraged during his governorship. This dream was that France’s colonial empire, comprising a territory fourteen times greater than France itself, should be organized on a vast plan of development so that the colonial resources should flow without delay or impediment through the coffers of the homeland. A splendid dream. Unfortunately, however, others were dreaming, too, and the Great War broke out to turn at least one dream into, a nightmare. M. Sarraut was kept in France as Minister of Education in the War Cabinet, which office, he stood as long as he could, after which he sought and obtained a commission as a second lieutenant, little enough for the man who had controlled the destinies of the army for a number of years in pre-war years. Anyhow, Second Lieutenant Sarraut marched away to war, fought in the battles of Bois le Petrie and Verdun, and at the latter place won for himself the Croix de Guerre. In appearance M. Sarraut is disappointing. He does not look at all the sort of man one expects him to look. He has gloomy eyes, a taciturn mouth, and somewhat hollow cheeks. Physically he is well proportioned, and has what is usually termed a “strong face.” He was Minister of Marine in the last Cabinet.