The Washington herald., 1916-03-27
POLITICS CAUSE
FRANCE TROUBLE
Powerful Intrigue Afoot to
Overthrow Constitutional
Methods of Government.
LAND STRIKE" LIMITED
Peasants Being Urged to Revolt. De-
cIares Balderston. Political and
Military Writer.
By JOHN l. BALDERSTON.
CCopyright, 1851

Paris, March 4.-There are two Gu
rious under-the-surface movements in
French politics at present. While in
the face Of the world the sacred
union" of parties is more or less main
tanned a powerful intrigue among a
group Of politicians to overthrow con-
stitutional methods Of government and
re-establish the Committee of Public
Safety of the Terror is under way.
Coincident with this, the widespread
discomfort among the impoverished
peasantry of several departments has
taken the novel and alarming form OF
a land strike" Certain agitators,
whether sincere pacIhsts or German
agents. is disputed, have induced
thousands of ignorant cultivators Of
the soil to stop work ito make the
government end the war because of
famine"
do not wish to eXaggerate the i'm
portance of these two movements nor
to suggest that the morale of the
army has been affected. The magnif-
cent stand of General Humbert's men
around Verdun would be sufficient
answer to such a Islander on the
French nation. Defeat in the field
would, I believe, bring the peasant
nalcontents back to their plows. but
1t would assist the intrigue of the
aged Senator Clemenceau, leader Of
the political "assassins," as their OPP
pOnents call them. The dawn of vic
tory. by strengthening Joffres hands,
would put Clemenceau's party to rOut.
but would probably strengthen the
growing demand through the coun-
try for peace, and make it more diff
cult to deal with the strike prOpa-
ganda-"
New BOnaparte Sought.
While the striking peasants want peace.
Clemenceau and his adherents are con-
WINGED that the war is being bungled
and that the present chiefs of the nation
must be swept away and "a new Bona
parte'' found to sweep the Germans
across the Rhine. To this demand the
supporters of Premier BRAND, War Min
lister CialIieni (since resigned) and Gems.
JOffre ana Caste lnau. the military chief
tains retOrt bv crying "RObesPierre!' at
the octOgenaTian editor.
Clemenceau for forty-fve years has
bet leader in French politics. He. was
prer1ier from 1905 to 1909, and would be
in the cabinet today if he had not turn
ed down preferred portfolios. He is presi-
dent OF the army commission of the SEN
ate, and as such has the right to cross
examine Joffre, the war minister. and
the premier. and no military secret can
be kept from him He is also editor OF
The Freeman after its suppression, and
contributes to 1t twO-colUnn attack
on the government daily, which is more
ferCely censored by the military authOri-
ties than any other newspaper feature
IN Paris
The two authorities who must bow
down to CIemenCeau in his senatorial
position take their revenge on Editor
CIemenceau Nearly the whole respOn-
ha n
senator iUtrusted with secrets which not
even cabinet ministers share should use
his knowledge to attack the authorities
in his newspaper. but the aged fighter
contends that the interests of France
demand a peaceful revolution, that in the
national crisis considerations OF pro-
rriety have no weight, and continues
hitting out from the shoulder.
Backed by Socialist Leader.
His campaign would have no chance
Of success excepting that supporting
him is NJ Renaudel. leader Of the
French Socialist party since the death
OF Jaures. II RenaudeI could carry
his whole party with him, the strong
est in the chamber. the government
could not live. As it is. yCIemenceau
and RenaUdel are said to believe that
the supreme power will tumble into
their laps If there is a defeat in the
tinUes much longer. I have obtained
from one Of the maIcOntent leaders
the following definition OF their aims:
We realize that under our. Parlia-
meutary institutions the war cannot
be carried on with the maximum OF eff
fCienCy. We demand that each cham
Der choose a small committee, that
these committees unite, and that the
three. five or seven men thus chosen
by their colleagues be given full con-
troll over all aspects of the war-mili-
tary, political and economic. Only thus
can the present confusion and blunder-
ing be done away with and the best
generals and administrators put in
control"
CIemeuCeau and RenaudeI, it is sup
posed. expect to be on this alI-power-
full committee when it is chosen, and
the open attacks which CIemenceau
has been making on the general in
command, as we'll as on the members