New-York tribune., 1911-12-25
BUL[OOZ|NG OF KINGS
French Premier'S Secret Threats
to Two Rulers.

(Coprrlght 1911 by the Brentwood Company
King AlfonSo's intimation to the French
Premier CaillauX, that Spain is not Portu-
gal was called forth by that statesman's
semi official threat. conveyed to Madrid by
one Of his personal emissaries. that unless
Spain Yielded to Frances pretensions in
connection with Morocco and abandoned
the rights which she had acquired by the
treaty OF 1894. approved of at the time by
Great Britain. the republican movement
against the monarchy would be fOstered in
the kingdom itself and would receive en-
couragement I'm France In one word
CaillauX. without consulting his Minister OF
Foreign Affairs, NJ de Selves. or President
FalliereS, and ignoring the French Am
basSador a Madrid. deliberately announced.
through personal emissary dispatched to
Madrid for the purpose, that lie would
avail himself Of his position as Premier oi
France 10 stir up dynastic troubles In
Spain unless Alfonso gave way.
Alfonso Immediately caused this eXtraor-
dinary threat To be communicated TO the
various great powers. CaillauX is known
10 have conveyed menaces somewhat of the
same kind TO King Albert during the last
summer. with the purpose of inducing Bel
gium to relinquish certain Of her territories
In the valley of the Congo TO France and
10 accord 10 the French there advantages
OF an altogether exceptional character.
At Brussels as at Madrid. the threats OF
CaillauX's emisSary proved unsuccessful.
Indeed, the only thing that seems to have
been accomplished thereby is that the
French Minister of Foreign Affairs, NJ. de
-. "a l4M tf g-,.ta
statesman and eX-Premier de Freycinet,
declined to be any longer responsible for
the international relations of France as
long as the Premier persists in carry ing on
personal policy of his own unbeknown TO
the Department of Foreign Affairs and to
the President Of the republic by semi-ofii-
cial and secret emissaries For a time it
seemed as II NJ de Selves would have to go.
But the "Repubique Francaise' and the
other most authoritative organs Of the Re
publican party in France have now eX-
pressed I'm vigorous language their disap-
proval OF the crooked methods of CaillauN
as altogether discreditable TO France, and
have ended by unanimously declaring that
his presence at the head OF the administra-
tiOn is danger to the country
The entire affair constitutes another gar-
ing illustration Of the impotency Of the
President of the French Republic as COM
pared with the Chief Magistrate Of the
United States. Caillaux is a man Of most
inordinate ambition. who while a member
Of the Monls Cabinet took advantage of the
illness Of his chief TO suppant him. 1t may
be recalled that the aeroplane OF the avia-
tor Nedrine. when starting for Madrid, got
beyond the control of the latter and, flying
too low, moved down and killed the Minis
ter OF War at the same time inhicting
severe injuries on Monis. Monis managed,
however, TO carry on his official duties and
a photograph was published broadcast in all
the illustrated papers showing him in the
act Of presiding at Cabinet council from
his bed, with his colleagues seated on chairs
around the room. CaillauX cleverly took
advantage of this 10 stir up an agitation
that the government of France could not
be administered from a bed, and. causing
several articles TO be published 10 this ef
feet in papers, brought them 10 Mons and
so worked on his feelings In his weakened
condition. that he literally forced the un-
fortunate man to resign, leaving the Monis
house just as Monis's son, who had OBJ
tanned wind OF the Cailaux intrigues en-
tered # with the object of nipping them in
the bud CailauX, with his chiefs resg
nation in his pocket, went off straight TO
the Elysee, presented il to President Fal
Heres and was promoted TO the rank OF
Premier in his stead.
Caillaux is a gOod-looking man. with some
means Of his own, inherited from his faith
ct, one Of the leading engineers Of France,
and who designed all sorts Of great works
ceived the idea Of constructing a tunnel be-
tween Calais and Dover and drew Sir Ed
ward Watkln, then president of the South
Eastern Railroad, running from London to
Dover, into adopting his plan. The tunnel
would have become an accomplished fact at
the time had ii not been for the opposition
Of the military authorities headed by Field
Marshal Lord WOlseley, who declared that
the existence Of a tunnel would imperil
Euglands means Of military defence and
so scared the English people that Parlia-
ment declined 10 give its sanction TO the
scheme. This was before FashOda and long
prior to the entente cordiale.
Premier CaillauX possesses certain
likeness TO the late Due de MOrny, and
rather culuyates the resemblance by af-
fectiug what he imagines TO have been the
manner of the famous half-brOther Of Ma
poleOn III. Whereas. however the late
Duo de Morny had the bearing and the
manners OF a grand seigneur, Caillaux is
completely lacking in the good breeding
and instructive courtesy Of his model
1t is difficult quite to understand the
ambitions Of Caillaux. For that he will
ever attain the Presidency is improbable
i'm the extreme His matrimonial expert
cnces have been too peculiar TO commend
him TO that bourgeoIsie, great and small
I'm France which constitutes the backbone
Of the nation as we'll as the source Of its
prosperity. and which, proud Of it's re-
spcctability. requires at least what il calls
correction" in domestic matters on the
part Of the President Of the republic
Thus. the reason why Leonie Leon always
refused 10 marry Gambetta in spite Of his
persistent entreaties to be permitted TO
legitimize their intimacy Of years. was be-
cause. as she declared. she realized that
his marriage with her would place him
out Of the running for all time for the
Presidency Of the republic. which was the
goal Of his ambition and the natural eli
max Of his career
Bonapartes Not Parvenus.
Bonapartes are 50 often described. both
in print and in conversation as "Corsican