New-York tribune., 1918-01-17
Callaux

IL is one or the lrOneS OF late that Ger
man diplomacy, which had every reason
Tor concealing the high hopes which it
pinned on the good offices Of Joseph Gail
laux, should have been the agency to
trumpet loudest to the world his disposi-
ton to be serviceable to German ambi-
tions. The German government had for
years counted on Cailaux as its best friend
among the French politicians. When he
was Premier, in 1911, after the Agadir in
cident, he was violently attacked for hav-
ing conducted secret negotiations with Ger
many in behalf Of settlement which
would have been highly gratifying to Ber-
lin. He was driven out of office by these
attacks, and the agreement reached by the
succeeding ministry bitterly disappointed
German expectations. Great Britain Civ
ing the strongest diplomatic support to
France, the Kaiser decided to drop rafting
the sword in the scabbard for time until
his war preparations should be more
complete.
But the Germans never forgot CaillauX's
Willingness to go a long distance in order
to oblige them. Since 1911 nothing has
been too good to say in the German press
about Joseph CaillauX. When, in 1914,
his wife shot and killed CASTOR Calmette.
the editor Of "Le Figaro and he resigned
as Minister of Finance to seek a vindica-
tion from Calmette's charges at the hands
of his constituency, the "Berliner Tage-
blatt' sent special correspondent to write
up his electoral campaign, which was pict-
ured as the triumphal progress Of great
and strong man, not sufficiently appre-
ciated by the Partisan press and public
Ever since the war Teuton journalists
have been highly indiscreet in their refer
cnces to the one French party leader who
still retained an undiminished popularity
in Berlin and Vienna. Caillaux's activities
certainly gave the enemies of France much
ground for satisfaction. But it was high
ly impolitic for them to advertise that sat
isfacton, and the German diplomats
abroad who came into contact. surrepti-
tious or other, with Caillaux on the latter's
travels were justified in making paintive
appeal to the home government to shut off
this damaging flow of praise. A boycott
by the government last June. But for pur-
poses of camoufage it came too late
The report of the German Legation in
Argentina on CaillauX is a masterpiece of
critical analysis. According to it, he called
Germany's diplomacy "indiscreet and
clumsy" (gentle words, those) and still
'professed to believe in German atrocities" :"
But 'in essentials he has hardly changed
his political orientaton." Nothing could
be more compact-or more damaging
than this code fashlight on CallauX's
motives and character.
In his "crentation" he has certainly
been steadily anti-British and pro- German.
That "orientation" fits in with his sup
posed relations with Bolo Pacha and the
other agents in France Of the subtle Ger
man peace propaganda. 1t fits in with
his operations in Italy. If his German
well-wshers in Argentina, who went out
Of their way to recommend him to the
courtcsies Of U-boat commanders should
he be taken prisoner on the way back to
Europe, are to be trusted, his "orienta-
tion" has also fitted in with intercourse
with the cnemy-for the enemy's good.
Until Clemcnceau came into power no
French Premier was willing to tear the
mask off CallauX's face and prosecute
him for what he was. 1t will be a Et
closing to his career of subserviency to
German policy and interests if out of in
tcrcepted German diplomatic dispatches
comes the material which will clinch his
sentence
AZ