The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-24
FRENCH TURNING
FROM ClEMENCEAU
NEWS FROM PARIS
Think the Premier Has
Yielded Too Much and
Gained Too Little.
MAY NAME BRAND
France Needs Good Will
of United States and
May Select M. Andre
Tardieu, Says Writer.
MAY NAME BRAND
nv JUSTIN MCGRaTH;

Washington, April 23-The French
are turning from Clemenceau. SO we
are informed in the cable news Oh
roa.v IT in sati that they think he
has welded TOO much and obtained 100
little.
Ne are told that. as Clemenceah' $
star sinks, Brands ia raising, 1he
assertion ia made that the ShaFlse %
sentiment toward the aged premier IN
tho mast month has been so great
that even the newspapers that nave
heen the most faithful to him are now
ready TO salute his successor.
II Cfenenceau is to lose his power,
! doubt very much that BRAND VIII
be named 10 succeed him, III BRAND
should be named. the French VIII re-
wise d policy which they haze toi~
lowed for many decades. whenever
France has been confronted ny an IN
sernational crosts, the t'renGn poaey
has beer 10 select premier who could
WELD great influence with that nation
whose friendship seemed at the Ifitt
lo he most valuable to France,
In recent years, particularly, nearly
III Franch statesmen have risen 70
supreme power by reason or their
close close afYiiiation with some of the
great nations Of Europe which Al sas
anne France had reason to court
For instance. Poincare became
president because OF his a1hlanohs
with and his influence over The Rus
sfans A. the sirne of hss election
here were both political and finan-
,,al reasons which influenced France
n rauprocheme with Russia She
seeaed an alliance with Russia 10 save
aer from being overwhelmed ny Ter
naang. and she desired it because al al
,orded an opportunity for the invest
ment of French capital in Russia
.tth the assurance Of large returns
why poincare Chosen.
Poincare had always been on terms
" great intimacy with the HuSSiaf
-svuastv and leading hnanciers of
Russia He. therefore. was the
natural selection for France 10 make
a create the impression In Russia
NAT France wanted 10 he Russia
yue and loyal political and COM
nerclal ally.
The prominence Of Caillaux in
French affairs was due to his influence
IN Germany. Now that everything
German is a matter OF detestatiou to
Erenchmen. Caiilaux Is IN Jail on
charges Of having aided German pro-
saganda in France, incidentally, IL
interesting 10 note that, although
hese charges were made more than
d
brought to trial
Clemenceau rose to supreme power
IN France largely because he has Al
ways cultivated the friendship and in
fuencc OF Great britain.
When Great Britain became the
strongest barrier in opposition to the
success OF Germany's onslaught on
] .4tno.. the British desired to have at
the head of the French government
man in whom Great Britain would
have complete confidence. and the
French. for reasons OF policy. met this
desire by the elevation OF NJ Glenn
enceau TO the premiership.
Now. while Aristidc BRAND unaues-
tionably is one of the strongest of
capacity as well as great resolution
he is not a man particularly well
qersed in foreign affairs,
He has no foreign connections that
would serve his ambition. He rose
10 supreme power when France swas
absorbed in domestic problems. II
was when the issue between chutc h
and state became acute that he WAS
made premier. His knowledge OF
domestic affairs and Of the domestic
politics of France is excelled by that
II no man in France. But he has
never made an especial study of for
eign relations and. therefore, has not
that equipment WnIcn the tfeuCfl
probably will think necessary to MAIN
lain Il high position for France in The
present world crisis
Tardicu Logical Choicc.
If the French follow precedent in
the selection OF n successor TO NJ
rlemenoeau. should it be decided to
lepcsc him. the most likely selection.
would he Andre Tardieu--at least,
hat was the information ] received
from men OF prominence in France
when was in Paris
N Tardieu was Frances commits
soner to the United States during
he war lie Ii n man of many ac-
.omplishmcnts and acknowledged
ability. He enjoys tho personal ac-
suaintance OF nearly all Of the Ameri-
IAN statesmen and the friendship Of
many of them. including that OF
President Wilson.
Moreover, 1t was NJ. Tardicu who
negotiated the French loans in
America and directed the purchase OF
French supplies. This brought him
In contact with the leading flnanciers
and the leading manufacturers Of
\ America No. Frenchman understands
better the American psychology than