The Washington herald., 1911-09-24

Theophile Delcasse has held the post Of
minister for foreign affairs at Paris long
er than any French stateman since the
days Of the Due Decazes, and in this cir
cumstance the German press finds an
ample explanation of the protracted Mo-
rocco crisis. Delcasse held the same port
folio SUCCESSFULLY in the Dupuy, Brisson,
| Waldeck-Rousseau, Combes, and Rou-
vier cabinets. True, he was driven from
the Quai d'Orsay to placate Berlin. Yet
once more Delcasse is cabinet minister
but his portfolio this time is that of the
navy. No sooner was he in office again
| than the crisis cover Morocco. which
/ seemed to have found a solution, burst
out afresh. But in the meantime 1T had
been this same Delcasse whose policy
had brought about the entente cordiale
between France and Great Britain.
The passion of Delcasse's life is re
venge upon Germany" He cannot for
get Alsace-Lorraine. He had too patri-
otic a teacher-Gambetta. That desire
for revenge is the real secret of the Mo-
rocco crisis, and TheOphile Delcasse for
! years has been preparing for the crisis
and is its head and center. Unfortunate
/ ly for France. Delcasse never has been
Bismarck. His is a battling PERSONAL
ity, but. according to French opposition
papers, he is but a ''clever dwarf" Yet,
| II dwarf, he has certainly known how to
set two nations at each other in a most
serious conflict. 1t was revenge, all die
tated by revenge, without giving the ter
rible consequences the consideration they
demanded.
The French are a nation more swayed
by emotions than any other people on
earth. They make of man
demigod or they consign him to the
depths of Obscurity. So it was with
TheOphile DeIcasse. Some have termed
his sway over the foreign policy of his
native land "OIympian." There is no
doubt that at the Quai d'Orsay he was
for years despOt and prophet all in one.
His word law among the finest
diplomats Of the most diplomatic COun-
try--in the world. And yet outwardly
DelCasse, a trained journalist. never
even tried to learn diplomatic manners.
He remained simple of bearing, remind
ing Of nothing so much as the little
journalist who used to buttonhole the
deputies in the Hobbies OF the chamber"
But he set an example which the en-
tire French diplomatic establishment felt
safe to adopt and initiate. No one ever
was a more devOut believer in state Sc
crets than Delcasse; no one ever more
loyal to diplomacy. His idea was not
only to plan policy like a game of
chess, but to play the game.
Not one minister in the successive
cabinets to which he belonged ever was
allowed more than an outsiders glimpse
into NJ. Delcasses mysteries. Parlia-
ment TO him was an article for home
needs only. No one who has not fol-
lowed debates on foreign policy in the
French Chamber closely can imagine the
hushed awe that fell upon the house
whenever Delcasse spoke Often a So
claIist or Nationalist would make an
effort to interpellate him. but they all
succumbed in the paralyzing atmosphere
that enveloped the mysterious Delcasse-
He made his political debut under
Gambetta. whom he in reality has 10
thank for all that he is and has
achieved. That great leader marked
him out from the very first, and ques-
tions Of high foreign policy have cap
tiyated Delcasse ever since. So did
Colonial issues, as part of the foreign
policy OF the republic. When Charles
Dupuy, who succeeded Casimir Perier,
was forming his caDlnel, ne "dhleu ~
make Delcasse his minister of foreign
affairs, but the latter would accept only
that Of the colonies. for which at the
time he felt himself to be best fitted.
Six months later saw the downfall of
the Dupuy ministry. After that Del
casse had another three years in which
to prepare himself for the post OF
chancellor of the republic" for that
was in reality the function he fulfilled
during his years at the Quai d'Orsay.
though there is no such title in modern
France.