The Daily News MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1934. CRISIS IN FRANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1934, Page 4

The Daily News

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1934. CRISIS IN FRANCE.

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The appeal of the ex-Premier, M. Doumergue, for authority to seek the endorsement or otherwise of the electorate upon the programme of any Ministry of France has been refused. He has resigned, although the party truce that made his appointment possible is, according to the new Premier, M. Flandin, to be continued. M. Doumergue’s fall was due to the refusal of the Radical-Socialists, the nearest equivalent in French politics to the older Liberals of Great Britain, to accept his reasoning that responsibility in office must carry with it the right to a dissolution of its programme is not acceptable to the Parliament . as constituted when such a policy is introduced. If the comments of the French Press are to be believed the party truce under which the new Ministry has been formed will be short-lived and the old days of in-and-out Governments will return. So far as domestic affairs are concerned that is a matter for the people of France to determine. But in international affairs, especially the co-operation with Great Britain in keeping the peace of Europe, the defeat of the Doumergue Ministry is unfortunate. Within two months, to take but one instance, the plebiscite in the Saar territory must be taken. That will decide whether that area is to remain, as at present, a buffer State between part of the boundaries of France and Germany, administered by a Commission appointed by the League of Nations, or to become part of France, or to return to Germany. There are indications of much propaganda in the Saar from both those countries, and that it will require wise administration in the Territory to prevent disorders before and during the time the plebiscite is being taken. In another direction the foreign policy of France has suffered by the assassination of the late Foreign Minister, M. Barthou, in that agreements with the Baltic States, Poland, Germany and Russia propounded by him were declined, and he did not live long enough to suggest alternatives. Those agreements were intended, inter alia, to stabilise the eastern frontiers of Germany, and to reconcile territorial differences between Poland and Russia. Negotiations were proceeding also between France and Italy and the Danubian States for agreements, economic as well as political, that it was hoped would prevent misunderstandings and permit European disarmament to be brought within the range of practical politics. Since M. Barthou’s death France has been too occupied with domestic political discord to show the determination in foreign affairs which, must have behind it the power of a strong Government if it is to prove effective without provoking illwill. It is that power that has enabled Great Britain in the last three years to regain and maintain the leadership in international affairs that is generally recognised even by other great Powers. It is true that each French Ministry asserts that in foreign affairs the Republic’s policy is always the same, namely, security and a desire for peace. Granting the bona fides of such a declaration of policy, its influence upon other nations is undoubtedly weakened by their knowledge that the Minister speaking for France to-day may be relegated., to obscurity to-morrow, even though the majority of his countrymen might have been prepared had they been given the opportunity, to endorse his policy or actions. In the councils of Europe France has to meet three great Powers that have adopted autocratic rule. Russia, Germany and Italy have' regimented their peoples into a common obedience to and support of government by dictatorships. Whatever the weakness of that form of government, it makes for cohesion and for effectiveness, especially in international affairs Nor does that apply to diplomatic policies only. In the field of economics it is always easiei’ and more satisfactory to deal with a strong rather than a weak Government. The defeat of the most recent National affairs. Nor does that appears to have been due to economic difficulties as well as the proposal to amend the Constitution in regard to appeals to the electorate. The commercial and financial health of the Republic is far from good, and there seems to be an unwillingness to accept the stern fact that sacrifices are necessary if recovery is to be made. The. effects of the continuous depression are seen in the. political unrest that a few months ago came perilously near to civil war. It seemed, with the appointment of a National Government, that out of that crisis

there might arise a more stable administration of internal affairs and a Ministry that all Europe must recognise as having the undoubted and whole-hearted support of the nation. The events of the past fortnight have not encouraged that hope.