New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-14
France and the Disease o
Democracy

The latest crisis in French politics again
4 discloscs that disease which has been re-
( ,caled in all three of the greaC democra-
3 cies during the present world crisis. Like
Britain. like the United States, France Is
today at the mercy of parochial politi-
clans. elected primarily because of their
i concern for the selfish and petty interests
I Of their districts and without regard to the
Il questions affecting the life of the nation.
4 The present French Chamber was
4 chosen Just before the outbreak OF the
D war. The chief force IN the election was
4 that of a reaction against that national
defence legislation and that increased mil
II itarv effort which were, in turn, the con-
4 sequences of the Agadir crisis. Actually,
q the new French Chamber was chosen for
the purpose Of weakening the Three Year
a Military Service law. Before 1t could act
3 the war came and this law proved the sal
walton of France; the troops that this law
4 had supplied saved Nancy and the eastern
frontier.
For little. but only for little, this
d HETEROGENEOUS group of Deputies, one of the
6 weakest that ever represented a great ma
4 ton. even in peace, were helpless. The
Y sudden rush of events swept them off their
4 feet But only for little. Soon they
z began to reassert themselves and to make
j new and earnest demands upon the gov
j eminent and the army. They were alarmed
lest they should lose their own political
y ;,arorca and feared that they would lose
Z control of the army.
Certain weaknesses Of the army played
4 into their hands. The hospital and sani-
tarv services of the French army com
pletely broke down at the outset of the
war. and after long and sharp conflict the
legislature. led by Clemenceau, succeeded
in getting at the truth and insuring re-
forms.
Quite as disastrous was the action OF
the President and the Viviani Cabinet in
precipitately fleeing Paris and yielding
: TO the decision Of Joffre and the General
A staff. Poincare's departure was never
forgiven and never will be, and it cost
man not without elements of real strength
all chance of exerting a powerful infiu-
ence upon events. Joffre had decided to
abandon Paris altogether, and the Vivianl
Cabinet had bowed to his decision. This
& was only reversed when a group of Radl-
cal Deputies, including Jules Guesde and
Paul Painleve, served notice upon the gov
eminent that it could not prevent the de-
fence of Paris by the people and the con-
& seouent destruction of the city.
4 Ultimately the Niviani Cabinet plucked
ND its courage and insisted upon the de-
fence of Paris. Gallieni came and Paris
4 did hold out. But the fall of Vivian was
! assured. One may still recall the bitter
! words of Clemenceau, words that have an
( American application. In describing Vi
viani, perhaps the best political orator in
France. Clemenceau said; 'He has spoken,
he speaks, he will speak"
The fall Of Vivian, some months later,
made the return of BRAND inevitable. Of
all French statesmen BRAND is the man
hest qualified to fill the difficult post of
President Of the Council. Like Lloyd
George, whom he resembles, he has imagi-
nation, he has a very acute perception OF
popular win and the direction popular
opinion will take, but ne has many ele-
rents OF weakness, some Of them like de-
fects recognizable in the British Prime
Minister. He lacks the strength of a mas
Ter OF men: he can neither deal with legis-
latures in the Cromwellian manner, nor is
he like Gambetta. able to dominate them
By sheer personality.
BRAND took Office with the intent TO get
rid of Joffre, whose WEAKNESS and grow
ing failure were patent, and 10 compel the
abandonment Of the Gallipoli adventure.
He failed 20 dispose Of Joffre for more
than year. and he found himself finally
compelled to advocate not the abandon
ment Of Gallipoli, but the occupation Of
Salonica. Some success he had he pre-
sided over the economic conference Of the
Allies in Paris last year with rare skill and
established for himself the position Of the
natural leader in Allied counsels.
Is But the victory which was needed 20
insure his position did not come and has
Z not come. Compelled 20 defend the army
against the interference Of the politician
end yet 20 yindicate the supremacy Of the
national legislature over the military, his
s task was impossible. Verdun ultimately
enabled him 10 dispose Of Joffre, but the
failure at the Somme last year finally
shook his own position. France, suffering
terribly from her great losses. underwent
grave disappointment. The blunderings
IN the Balkans, the indescribably stupid
handling Of the Greek situation, for which
The British and the Russians were respon-
sible, but in the blame for which BRAND
suffered At home became powerful indict
ments in the French Chamber.
Ia January the fall Of the BRAND min