FRANCE AND THE BIRTH RATE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15955, 25 October 1919, Page 4

FRANCE AND THE BIRTH RATE.

Ths French. Academy of Medicine does ■well to protect Franco from a con finned decline of the birth-rate. British 'women are evidently protesting against Germany being compelled to hand over to France 140,000 milch cows and 30,000 goats, expressing horror at the effect on German babies o i such k»s. The icademy reminds the women of Britain that 8000 out of 18,000 school children in invaded areas of France became hospital cases during the war period, mostly owing to tuberculosis, while the birth-rate dropped 60 per cent, and infant mortality increased tremendously. Charity should commence at home, and the Allies first duty is to protect the women and babies of France. If there are more than sufficient cows and goats in Franco to supply the country’s needs, then there is reason for the protest of British women; but facts are against such a supposition- The nation which stood the brunt of the fray and which made such terrible sacrifices for the cause of freedom should not be allowed to suffer; and, alx>ve all, every effort must bo made to rebuild the nation and increase the birth-rate. In 1870 Franco and Germany were nearly equal in population. In 1914 the difference in favour of Germany was approximately thirty millions. German writers before the war advanced many reasons for their assurance of victory, but there was none on which they placed more reliance Ilian on the adoption of the two-family theory by the French. Disaster was averted by those reserves of strength which are an outstanding feature of the French character, and by the sympathy of the rest of the world. But the danger subsists, and has, indeed, been aggravated by the war. The birth-rate has declined until it has become lower than the death-rate, and in some departments the percentage of infant mortality has quadrupled. We have heard much of the effects of the severity of the Allies’ terms on Germany, but they have been small in comparison with the injuries inflicted by an, unprovoked attack on the northern provinces of France, such as are drawn attention to in to-day's cables by the French Academy of Medicine. Happily, the French are settling down to the development of their new and old resources with energy and ability, and the great revival of national spirit will materially aid in enabling her once more to attain national greatness