The New York herald., 1920-01-25
ny THOMAS II. PRESTON.


The two chief events ,that stand out
from all others since the exchange of rati-
! fications of the peace treaty are the over
throw of Clemenceau and the lifting OF
| the blockade against Russia. Public opin-
ion both here and abroad is considerably
divided on each question Clemenceau
was regarded by many as the ideal type
of resistance to autocracy on the one hand
and anarchy on the other. the organizer
of victory and the Savior of France" as
his enemies called him to save their faces,
while his friends refused to sign lauda-
tory document prepared by those who had
compassed his defeat
Although French Cabinets are proven
bially temporary. that of Georges CIemen-
ceau has lasted far longer than the aver
age. having been in power since Novem-
| ber 16, 1917. 1t is not so much the mere
length of his stay In office that counts as
the momentous events that took place in
this time and the part he took in guiding
affairs for the safety of France and the
democracy of the world. His advent to
office. about comedies with the ousting OF
kerensky in Petrograd and the seizure of
the Russian government by the Bolshe-
Wiki. His fall comedies with their latest
triumph. During the whole period there
has been no more consistent hater of the
Reds than Clemenceau.
Germans Rejoice mt Leaders Fall.
There is undoubtedly moro rejoicing in
Moscow over his defeat that in any other
centre. unless it be Berlin. Eagerly the
Germans have been looking forward to
Clemenceau's fall to improve their political
position, and one of their leaders as long
ago as last April voiced the wish that
was father to the thought when he pre-
dicted that 1t was bound to occur soon. 1t
was Matthias Erzberger head of the Centre
party. who declared that Strong and in
! fluential factors" were at work in France
TO compass the Premier's overthrow. But
| II the Germans think France will weaken
| in her vigilance to see that the treaty OF
Versailles is observed they are mistaken
The defeat of Clemenceau for the Presi-
dency of the Republic was brought about
by a combination Of personal enemies. of
whom the Tiger had made scores during
his long career; of pacifists. for whom he
had no tolerance, and of the revolutionary
Socialists, of whom there are few in
every country. with their sympathizers Of
the left wing of the Socialist party. Then
there were the secret friends of CaillauX.
! the powerful banker. once Premier of
France, who is about to be tried like Bolo
Pacha for his treacherous dealings with
Germany during the war.
All these influences together were strong
enough to prevent the election of Clemen-
ceau to the Presidency, but are not power
treaty. Paul Deschanel, who was chosen
to succeed President Poincare, Is in every
respect worthy of the office. He viii not
be the tool Of the sinister coalition which
helped to elect him, but must of necessity
recognize the Socialist element. This he
has done in naming, or rather acceding to,
the appointment as Premier of Alexander
lMillerand who conducted himself Loyalty
and ably as Minister of War in the Viviani
Cabinet, the first Ministery to be oppointed
after the outbreak of hostilities, when the
lGermans were moving through Belgium
into France.
! So. while Clemenceau has been defeated.
il cannot be said that the revolutionary
socialists have won. 1t should be remem-
bered that in France the Premiership is
far more important than the Presidency.
The Premier for the time being ia the gov
ernment and shapes all the policies with
which the President has nothing TO do,
just as in England the Prime Minister has
! all to say about the government, with
which the King has no right to interfere
and would not dare even to proffer politi-
| cal advice
| Both i'm Great Britain and In France the
Cabinet is responsible to the elected rep
| resent tatives of the people and il II acts
contrary to their will can be thrown out
of office by an adverse vote OF the House
of Commons or the Chamber of Deputies
ident have n say. 1t is their constitu-
tional duty to appoint a new Premier In
practice they have to consider the will of
the majority Of the representatives. FOR II
they did not their nominee would be
quickly turned out of office and the
process repeated until acceptable candi-
dates were named.
Thus in both Great Britain and France
government and its policies domestic as
well as foreign, are far more responsive to
! the will of the people than in the United
States, where the President and Cabinet
are rremovable, except in the rare chance
| Of impeachment. no matter what eXecu-
| tive procedures they may adopt. In this
country the President has all the powers
of premier with all the irrespoiisiblity
of king. This has often led TO the sug-
gestion that Cabinet members here should
have seats in the House OF representa-
tives and be answerable to that body for
their acts and policies.
Aim of the Socialists.
II was not so much the defeat of Clcmen-
coau for the Presidency that his enemies
wished to accomplish aS il was TO capture
! this power OF naming the Premier. For,
although Mr.. Poincare is stll President
and will be until the end of his term. on
February 1S when the inauguration OF
Mr.. Deschanel will take place. he naturally
!
pointment of the Premier Thus, while
Clemenceau's foes have succeeded i'm their
first object, which was to cause his over
throw they have failed at least partly, in
their designs on the office Sf Premier
Mllerand himself although a Socialist
was severely attacked by members of that
party when he was Minister of War and
was finally driven out of office by them
when the Viviani Cabinet fell Aristide
Rriand then became Premier and General
Galleni was made Minister of War. Mil
lerand remained loyal to the cause OF the
Allies I'm spite of the opposition OF the
pacifists among the Socialists. He was
one OF the earliest to suggest the appoint
ment OF one Generalissimo TO command all
the allied armies. project which was
finally accomplished by the selection of
Marshal Itoch to direct the campaign that
with the assistance OF the American army,
lcd 10 victory.
There is already talk In Paris that the
Mnlerand Cabinet will be only n stop
gap ministry and that Aristide BRAND
may return to power after the Inaugural
ton OF Deschanel, WHOSE chief backcr he
was. BRAND is much more Red than
MlIlerand, having started in his public
cnreer by writing for anarchist journals