POLITICAL CRISIS IN FRANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1934, Page 6

POLITICAL CRISIS IN FRANCE.

Though Ministries come and go in France with far less disturbance of community life than in British countries, it is well for European affairs that no change has resulted as the outcome of the recent financial scandal in Paris. With the council of the League of Nations now in session, and direct nego-. tiations between France and Germany on the subject of armaments at a most delicate stage, it would have been highly unsatisfactory if the French representatives at the League could not have felt assured of the backing of their Government. To outsiders the astonishing factor in the Stavisky revelations is that they should haVe involved the Government of France even indirectly. Stavisky appears to have been the, type of swindler represented by Hatry in Great Britain and Kreuger in Sweden. The size of the scheme instituted by such “financiers” is often the best cloak of nefarious designs upon the public. Sometimes, indeed, a plan started with honest intent has grown beyond control by the urge of eager public support. But to imagine a hostile vote against the Imperial Government because a London swindler had been found out is almost unthinkable. It appears, however, that in the French scandal persons in authority, including some Parliamentarians, are suspected of having accepted bribes, and of hindering the detection of a colossal fraud. The attack upon the Government has failed, but full inquiry has been promised by the French Ministry, and from this almost any political happenings may follow. For the sake of international affairs the more stable the Government of France remains during the coming months the better.