New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-29
A New French Cabinet.

A change Of French cabinets IN the
tresent world crisis must raise three ques-
tons. Does the change foreshadow an
internal revolution, the downfall Of the
Republic? Does it indicate a probable
break in the external alliances Of France?
What light do the characters and previous
records of the new Cabinet members throw
upon their probable policies?
Now at the outset it is safe TO answer
the first question in the negative. So far as
il is humanity possible to see the Third
Republic is stronger to-day than ever
in its history, or 10 put it negatively a
wear and more Of war has contributed
nothing TO strengthening either Bonapart-
ist or Royalst faction in France. II the
French people are to-day hungering for a
man-on-horseback, spectacular successor
TO the simple and utterly democratic Joffre,
there is nothing 20 show II.
As 10 the second question, it is almost
as certain that the change of ministry has
no meaning in foreign affairs that can
be seized upon by the most optimistic
German as promising French retirement
from the Anglo-Russian alliance or from
the war itself There is reason 20 believe
that France will now ask for herself a
larger share in the determination Of the
Joint policies Of the alliance. There IS
ground for thinking that the Balkan fasco
is chargeable TO British rather than
French diplomacy But the men who are
now mentioned as ministers are emphati-
cally not champions Of separate peace or
Of peace on any terms yet obtainable.
Turning now 10 the new ministers. &C
cepting the forecasts already published,
1t is necessary TO say, at the outset, that
BRAND. the prospective Premier, is by
common agreement a strong man." In
deed. his strength, his scorn for parlia-
mentary restraint and his contempt for
purely technical barriers have made him
almost impossible in times Of peace. He
was. in fact, suspected for this reason, and
was twice compelled TO resign his position
as President Of the Council.
To the world BRAND is chiefly memo
rable as the man who put down the great
French railroad strike Of 19l0-when the
employees Of the Northern Railway, play
ing their part in the great labor agitatons
of that period, decided to strike, thus Grip
ping Paris and putting the climax to long
years Of labor disturbances. BRAND, in
stead Of surrendering. TO the labor union
lists, whose political power was great,
promptly issued mobilization orders for
the railroad employees, thus putting them
under military authority and changing
the whole character Of the problem.
In a brief time French public sentiment
rallied to BRAND. the strike collapsed and
the incident is a landmark in the domestic
history Of France in recent years. Subse-
quently when challenged in the Cham
Der. BRAND remarked that If there had
been no law to justify his course he would
still have acted. This frank statement
was hailed with shouts of dictator, "
it ultimately led 70 the fall Of his ministry,
it made his later tenure as Premier,
after Poincare's election. short but 1t sup
plies an index TO the character Of the man
Equally Interesting and significant is
the selection Of Jules Cambon TO direct
the foreign affairs Of France Cambon
for years had held the difficult post Of
Ambassador at Berlin. He fought through
the great Agadir crisis. What Cambon
thought Of German purpose is clearly de
scribed in his contributions 10 the French
Yellow Book. When he left Berlin, at the
outbreak Of the war. he was treated with
gross discourtesy, actually held up" for
the money to pay for his special train TO
the frontier and insulted in most out
rageous fashion.
Without question Cambon and his broth
or. Paul Cambon, French Ambassador 70
London. are the ablest members Of the
French diplomatic corps. No one is better
equipped to deal with German diplomatic
activities all over the world than the acute
and astute ambassador who for years has
been watching German statesmen in Der.
lin. Nothing is more inconceivable. too
than that Jules Cambon should consen,
TO serve in a ministry that purposed &c
4 surrender 70 Germany.
The mention Of General Gallieni as Min
ister Of War raises new and battling cues
tons BRAND and Cambon may be ex
pected 20 pursue more vigorously. NOR
successfully the general purposes of thei
predecessors, bat VIII Gallieni consent. a
has Millerand. 90 be in all essential de
tails the servant rather than the mastc
of JoFre? For the friends Of the French
this question is necessarily disturbing
For many months it has been generally
believed that the French Parliament wa.
az odds. theoretically, with Millerand act
Tally with JofTre. because Of his complete
..on,lncl IL IL r,nli4irinr. M,4L...t 81,