The Washington herald., 1919-10-26
BY JOHN LLOYD BALDERsToN.

world of the capital. II Is not the
cost of living nor the American ex-
change. nor the menacing economic
recovery of Germany and her ambi-
| tions in the East. 1t is that the
French love best a scanial-"L'af-
faire Cailaux."
/ And what a scandal! "L'affaire
Caillaux' in its technical aspects is
buried beneath French judicial
phrases that do not mean what the =
seem to mean. In essentials the di-
lemma all Paris Is wondering Is this:
| Case l. .Cause Celebre.s
/ Win the government proceed against
a former prime minister Of the re-
public for high treason In time of
war, and drag into the light revela-
tions that may perhaps shake the
foundations of the state?
Or will Clemenceau and his advisers
decide that the trial would cost
France too much: that the execution
of her brilliant ex-premier by a FIR
ing squad at Vincennes prison would
have to be paid for by internal dis
sensions more serious than can be
safely risked?
the world will witness a cause eel
ebre" by whose side the Dreyfus
trials will pale. II the game Is de-
cided to be not worth the scandal.
the world will be told on or about
October 8 that Caillaux Is too Ill
to be tried, and ultimately the
charges against him will be dropped
1t Is the present impression here
In the highest circles that Old Tiger
Clemenceau has barred his fangs and
vowed to have the blood Of his an
cient enemy. Two anecdotes for
which ! can vouch. though I could
not publish them at the time. came
to my ears here in Paris in that
tragic 1918 March. and probably IL
lustrate Clemenceau's bitterness to-
day.
CailIaux was in the Sante prison;
the Germans were pressing toward
Paris. Clemenceau. daily, went to
the front and returned to face anx-
ious deputies in the lobby of the
chamber. One peculiarly trying day,
when the old man was begging his
friends to stand firm. he heard some
one in the crowd murmur something
about fate of the world in the bal
ance. What these battles are de-
Gliding is the fate Of Caillaux" he
flashed back. His auditors under
stood.
Premier 10 Bitter.
! A few DAYS later things looked still
worse. Could the British stand before
| Amiensi Clemenceau. his yellow Skin
4 looking like parchment dragged over
a skull. stood undaunted in the lobby.
Suppose the British do not hold
suppose the Germans force the Oiser'
came a voice.
Then. my friend" the heroic old
statesman and cynic replied. and the
group cheered him for il, you will
shoot me. and take Caillaux out OF
the Sante!"
What is the charge against Call
lauN! IT has been formulated by the
high court of inquiry OF the senate,
before which body sitting as the su-
preme judicial power of France the
brilliant leader of the Radical party
must appear. Even now, after three
years during which everything pos
sible has been done to get evidence
from all over the world. the allega-
tions brought by the government are
terrible because of their very vague
ness.
CaiIlaux will be tried as the master
mind behind all the ro-German ac-
tivities in France during the war. and
for at least three years before the
war. Bolo committed treason, was
convicted and died for Caillaux: II
was Caillaux who arranged the pur-
chase by the enemy of a controlling q
interest in Paris newspapers during
hostilities; Duval and Lenoir and the
Bonnet Rouge group of traitors. the
Malvy scandals, all lead to Caillaux
the spider who sat in the center of the
web and from whom all threads radi-
ated. So the prosecution will urge In
court. II the case is tried.
Bernstorff In the Case.
How CaiIlaux tricked the govern
ment into sending him on a mission
to South America in 1915. and his
negotiations there with Luxburg OF
"spurlos versunkt" notoriety: the
Bernstorff telegram to the German
foreign Office declaring that through
Caillaux peace could be made; the
activities in the United States of
German agents and defeatists said
to have been inspired by Caillaux-
all the proceedings of the accused
man in the new world will all be
dragged to the light IL he Is tried
and some dark corners in Ameri-
can politics may be illuminated.
For the ramifications Of the Call
laux case extend into every bellig-
erent and even neutral country.
Bolo's intrigues in the United States
have never been cleared up and
the trial of the traitors alleged
master. Caillaux, may. It is said
here, reveal the names OF Ameri-
cans who played the German game
at the master minds inspiration.
But the most sensational and
principal war activities OF Caillaux
are dated after his return from
South America to Europe. in 1915.
First, it will be charged that he
tried to persuade italy in 1916 to
betray the allies and make q sepa-
rate peace. Second. that he was in
constant communication with Ger
many, in itself an offense punish
able by death II held to be plotting
against the internal security of the
republic" Thirdly. that he orga-
nized at German behest a revolu-
tjonary conspiracy by which he
PLANNED to seize power in France
in 1917 and make peace. securing
favorable terms for France and
Abandoning England and Russia to
the victorious enemy.
Box VIII BE Important.
Like the famous bordereau in the
Dreyfus case. the mysterious box
which Caillaux deposited for safe keep
ing in q bank in Florence when Italy
was neutral. that was seized after
wards by France witB consent Of Italy
seems likely to loom large during the
trial In this box the government ex-
pected to find the inmost secrets of
Caillaux' heart. the definite unan-