The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-01
FRANCE LONGS
/ FOR PEACE But
MUST BE RIGHT
Only Peace Wanted Must Be on
French Terms.
Demand Return of Alsace-LOr-
raine and Indemnity.
PAY FOR WAR RAVAGES
a Unit Back of Pre-
mier's Stern Demands.
Billions Poured Out for War
From "WOOl Sock" HOards.
BY w. S. FORREST.

Paris, Aug. 1t is no secret in
France today that three years OF ter
rible war have produced an earnest
desire for peace. Sentiment towards
peace permeates the big government
buildings in Paris; the cities and
smallest villages. Almost every
French home aristocratic or humble,
rich or poor, in city or country has
its individual story of war sacrifice.
Crepe is as common as calico or silk.
Naturally this element alone has pro-
duced a longing for peace. But as
the composite voice of the highest Of
ficials of France has said:
1.-THE only peace wanted in this land
is a French peace-integral restitu-
ton of Alsace- Lorraine, brutally torn
from France in 1871, PREPARATION for
damages of war. guarantees Tor the
future France will fight until she
gets that peace"
For the first time during the war
the French parliament, with the ex-
ception OF three or four recalcitrant
Socialist deputies, is today a solicited
unit on all the war aims of the ma
ton. Premier Alexander Ribot, fac
ing the first political storm of his
regime when the chamber of depu-
. ties reconvened after the Easter hoh-
days took the firm action which con-
solidated the nation.
Petain in Supreme Command
He modified the high military COM
mand placing the national hero. Gen
eral Petain in supreme charge of
French forces on the Western front.
I'VE all want peace" he said. But
what we want and are going to have
is a French peace"
Frances parliament overwhelming
1y approved this sentiment. Perhaps
the absolute faith which the French
people-the rank and file-have in
the financial soundness of their ma
ton after three years OF war is best
proof of Frances financial stability.
t.au nv-A Fah fR4f f7n
famous has de laine," the wooden
stocking bank of France. 1t is the
little hoard of gold to be found al
ways in French homes. The strain on
it has been heavy. But today this
wooden sock continues to pour from
$500, 900 to $4,000. 900 each week into
the bank of France. This yellow
stream is exchanged for the govern
meilts short term bonds bearing from
four to five per cent of interest.
Billion Paper Money.
Also the circulation of French bank
notes-1ke American paper money
has risen today from $1,000, 900, 0Oo to
$4,000: 1000, 600. This represents the
standing short term bonds and ena-
bles France to live and carry on the
war from one great loan to another.
The war to date has taxed the finance
of France about eighteen billion dol
lars.
The seemingly bottomless has de
lame" made Frances first war loan
sucessfuel. and at a time when mill
taFy events were far from promising.
The second duplicated the first. Then
came the famous French Loan of
Victory" and its $4,000, 900, 900 more
from the wooden sock. For the first
time also during this past year. French
banks have found that deposits have
begun to overbalance Withdrawals of
private accounts.
500 Million War Tax.
France can allow her national debt
to amount to twenty billion dollars
and then use less than "ne-third OF
the country's net annua- savings to
carry it, Two years of war elapsed
before the government began to bal
ance accounts. Increased taxation.
including three cent postage instead
OF two; doubled telephone and tele-
graph rates; double tax on alcohol;
increased prices for tobacco. cigars
and matches, all government monopo-
lies; higher income tax AMI stamp
taxes on legal documents; increased
come tax and poll tax, bachelors pay
ing more than married men; increased
auto and gasoline licenses, etc, brings
in to the government $500, 900, 900 a
year or enough alone to carry the in
terest on one-third of the present ma
tional debt.
Economically. Frances condition i:
excellent.
Past months of Germany's intensi-
fled submarine blockade have pro
dneed few visible effects on French
economic life. Possibly with the ex.
ception OF Italy. France is today the
only warning nation in Europe where
food restrictions do not emphasize
themselves at every meal. Two day.
each week-Monday and Tuesday
civilian France goes without meat and
twice weekly there 8 an absence o.
pastry. That portion of the popula.
ton not depending on hote.s and res
taurants are put on their honor no
to eat the forbidden food on meatles
and oakeless days, The heiei or res
taurant proprietor sees that his guest
obey the law but he do~sIi't suffer
Tasty egg dishes. omelertes and fist
replace meat Nobody misisC the pas
try. France goes on eatirR with tran
quil satisfaction. Bread en- all Frencl
tables Is war-bread but It takes tn
most critical observer TO know it. Su
gar is sold by cards but no one ha