Evening journal., 1918-01-04
by W. :. FORREST
UnItld Press SD Correspondent

InlItQ Press ENhN Correspondent
PARIS. Noy. 26-tBy moill-France IS
facing her fourth winter OF war more
eonndenuy than any OF the three previ-
GUS ones This may seem surprising 90
those who argue that cabinet crises
political scandals, etc, indicate social
unrest and popular dissatisfaction. II
is true that during the last year gov
ernmsnt changes have been growing
more frequent and that political scan
dals OF a very grave nature have been
disclosed, IN which highly placed per-
sonages are implicated. There have also
been deceptions in the military field
Greater results had been hoped fcr
from the spring offensive and the col
Lapse Of Russla's military effort has
been a serious blow. Added 20 this Is
the anxiety over the italian situation.
II military successes were the molly
factors that count In the situation,
these events might well cause a Ger
tain dlscouragcment in country which
has been invaded for over three years.
But every Frenchman realizes that
there Is something else which Is more
decisive that feats Of arms or conquer
ed territories.
This IS financial security The nation
which will emerge from this world
struggle with its "sinews Of war in
tact. will never have TO accept an
enemy's peace According 10 latest stat
istics Frances gold reserve Is almost
double that Of Germany's. Practical
ly as we'll as morally this factor Is Of
enormous importance. for IL means that
Frances future ascendancy over her
enemies is assured.
Politically with the advent Of the
Clemenceau cabinet new era Is open
ing for France The date Of November
20, when the new ministry obtained an
overwhelming vote Of confidence In the
chamber. marks the end OF party rule,
and the triumph Of the will Of the ma
tion.
The French parliament. like those Of
the other belligerent countries, was
elected under pre-war conditions. Hence
an incompatibility Of temper between
the legislative assembly at the Palais-
Bourbon and the nation at war, which
threatened at moments 10 create open
discord
The result was a growing uneasiness
IN the parliament and a restlessness
among the nation. The most expert
enced parliamentary leaders, men like
Arlsltide BRAND. Rene Vivisni and
Alexander Ribot. found themselves at a
loss 10 bring about the necessary fusion
between parliament and people. This
latent and growing dscord was the
real reason why tho various ministries
had 70 retire.
The new ministry. constituted by
Georges Clemenceau, Is new IN the
full sense Of the term. Only four Of It's
members had held oflce In previous
var-cabinets. and Of these tSv' are nom
parliamentarians Loucheur, the 1000
controller and Clayeille, Minister Of
Public Works. II Is a sisnincant fact
that these two have been maintained
in their posts by two succeeding oabi-
nets.
Both Loucheur and Claveille are men
who came STRAIGHT from business life
into po-ernment positions. The sue
cess OF the experiment has been so re-
markable that there is every likelihood
that future cabinets may call on promi-
nent men outside the legislative bodies
20 collaborate In the government, thus
setting a new precedent In the politi-
eel system Of republican France.
OF the other ministerial portfolios
four OF the most important ones are
held by senator's, who so far have not
formed part Of any war cabinet
Namely. Clemenceau. who is War Min
ister as well as Premier; stephen
pichon, Minister OF Foreign Affairs
Jonnart. Blockade Minister. and Pans,
one-time presidential candidate against
RAYMOND POincarc, and who, as Minis
Ter Of Interior, will have the important
duty Of making a clean sweep OF "Bolo-
ism" In all its forms. With Georges
Clemenceau at the helm, France feels
that the regime Of compromises and
half-measures Is ended and the princi-
ple Of authority re-established.
As regards the political scandals, the
general feeling, after the first burst OF
indignatlon, Is that nothing could nave
been more fortunate than tnat tney
came % head just when they did An
uneasy Impression that something was
amiss had spread among the puplc'
like the symptom Of a malady which
IS hatchns
Looking towards Russia. France saw
fbe raysees OF the feminist cancer and
shuddered lest she might have got in
fected. Her relief was correspondents
lv great when the disorder turned out
TO be nothing more than a case Of Ger
man Measles in the form Of Boloism.
The diagnosis haxing been establish
ed and the remedies applied, the body
politc Of France feels already strength
ened and relieved.
With her house swept and garn.sh-
ed. France feels more prepared than
ever 70 meet the coming peace ouen-
sive. which Germany Is known TO be
preparing. Whatever form the latter
NAV take, one thing is certain. and that
IS rs Inevitable failure unless II stipu-
lates forithe return Of Alsace-Lorraine
10 France That this Is the "sine qua
non" for any peace discussions, has
been set forth with such clearness by
each succeeding ministry, that friend
and foe alike know there can be no
choice for Berlin but 10 cede the prov
inces. unless she can crush France by
force of arms.
Another and most important factor
which makes for unity and confidence
is tho regulating OF domestic problems
which, after the experience Of last win
ter. loomed ominously on the horizon
Of the fourth winter. There is no
LONGER any fear that food supplies and
combustibles will run out. France re
alizes, as her new premier announced
in his ministerial declaration. mat she
must be prepared TOT a more drastic
war regime. following the examples sci
by America, Great Britain and Italy
AZ the same time there has been O
marked improvement in general condi-