Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-09
POINCARE, "STRONG
MAN OF THE ELYSEE, "
ROSE TO WARS NEEDS
Most Popular Executive of
France Since MacMahon,
He Has Had Long Train
ing in Diplomacy.

| Napoleon prophesied at ST. Helena that
Cossack or all republican. says the New
York Evening Post. Today, with all Eu-
rope, as we'll as the foremost nation in
/ the Orient, arrayed against the Germanic
nations, the personality of the chief ex-
ecutive OF the great republic which has
evolved from the empire that Bonaparte
himself created and then lost is of prime
interest.
1t has frequently been said of Raymond
Poincare. since his election as President
of the French Republic in January, 1915,
that he Is tine strongest man in the
Elysee since the days of Marshal Mac
Mahon."
International relations being what they
have been since the opening of the Bal
kan War. the election of such man to
the Presidency in France ought 10 have
been matter of national congratula-
tion. instead of the occasion for the most
relentless political war that has ever been
waged against a chief executive of the
Third Republic. war moreover, which
in midsummer of 1911 1t was confident
ly believed would be able TO prevent the
formation of any Cabinet. and perforce
would eventually mean the resignation of
the President.
Chamber of Deputies at the age of TWEEN
ty-seYen. Raymond Poincare has always
been recognized as "strong man."
Now just past his ath year, NJ. Poin-
care has been in politics since earliest
youth. Beginning with his election to
the Chamber of Deputies in 1857, he has
since then been in many Cabinets-as
Minister of Agriculture. of Public In
struction and of Finance. He was Presi-
dent of the Chamber of Deputies for four
years, and for the year preceding his
election to the Presidency he was Prem
Ter. And this last office came to him
because he possessed in a noteworthy
degree the very qualities which parlia-
mentary tradition had decreed were dan
gerous in a President of the French re-
public.
OBSTACLES FOR POINCARE.
For some time before he became Prem
Ter the Foreign Office had made grave
errors in diplomacy. Words had beeh
spoken publicly which threatened the En-
tente Cordlale The country was indlg-
nant; one might say that the country
was scared. When the Caillaux Cabinet
fell Raymond Poincare was chosen
Premier and given instructions to es-
tabllsh peaceful relations and TO reor-
ganize the French foreign policy on a frm
foundation. How well he succeeded has
been shown in the cooperation OF the
Allies In this war.
In August, 1912. NJ Poineare paid
visit to the Gear. It was while he was
at the Russian court that he learned OF
the Balkan treaties. then unknown TO |
the rest of Europe. Immediately he saw |
the inevitable consequences: war in the |
Balkans, surely. and perhaps the long |
dreaded general war in Europe. During
the rest of his term as Premier, and by |
every means within his power after he /
became President. he worked for peace /
and harmony, but also TO put the army
Of France upon a lighting par with the |
military machine of Germany,
Yet how, in the face of all this, he came
TO be elected President OF Versailles In
1918, Is one Of the most puzLling OF the /
puzzles of French politics Arrayed sol
dily and uncOmpromisingly against him
we're the Socialists. because of his deter
10 force through the three years
enlistment Law, the vital move to raise
the French army TO proportionate size
with that of Germany. Still more,
against him stood Georges Clemenceau-
the most powerful politician IN France,
SO that when he entered the Elysee, Ray /