NEW FRENCH MINISTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1932, Page 6

NEW FRENCH MINISTRY.

Two-thirds of the new French Government were members of the Ministry which resigned last week when its leader, M. Herriot, failed to obtain Parliamentary support for his decision to pay the instalment due from France to the United States on account of war debts. M. Boncourt, the new Premier, is a former colleague of M. Herriot, and the new Government’s policy is not thought likely to show any marked difference from that of its predecessor. In regard to the debt to the United States the new Ministry has intimated its intention to resume negotiations with Washington. It must be remembered that France did not decline payment on the ground of inability to pay, but on the plea that in view of the Lausanne agreement she was being asked to pay in unreasonable circumstances, Great Britain used the same plea, but when it was non-effective preferred to honour her undertaking and argue afterwards about the future. France declared for argument before payment was made, and whatever may be thought of the ethics of such an attitude it appears to have the hearty concurrence of the nation. Fortunately the advent of a new Ministry seems unlikely to disturb the excellent understanding arrived at by Great Britain and France, at least in regard to the questions of war debts and reparations, Whether the co-operation between the Governments will be so close in regard to disarmament is another matter. Ministerial changes in France do not cause such political upheavals as in Great Britain, but the defeat of -M. Herriot was upon a policy "in which his views coincided with those held in London. It will be a source of satisfaction to British statesmen that his successor is equally willing to co-operate with them in bringing about a re-adjustment of the debts and other entanglements left behind by the war.