Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-19
ny PERrINAx.

e hAs<A
- fBy Gable to The Star. Copyright. 1921
san PARIS, December 1S.--When Mil
lerand was elected to the presidency
Of the republic in September last 1t
was pointed out in these dispatches
atthati he would experience the greatest
sdffficu1ty in carrying out his inten-
s.tion of directing the French govern
sfment over the head Of the prime min
ister Not only the republican con-
stitution Of 1875. which is in force
today but also all parliamentary
traditions and public habits. were
= bound to tell strongly against him.
.sfss Signs are now becoming evident
that the French cabinet. presided
over by NJ Georges Leygues. is
about to be compelled to resign
For Instance. the secretary for war,
N. Lefevre, is out of sympathy with
Snpfs leader and his colleagues and has
=. Determined to- leave the cabinet very
Soon
The time has come to inquire
whether Millerand has succeeded or
failed. in his undertaking and to ex-
anime the prospects for the future.
Coptrots Every Department..
1t can be stated at once that hither-
to the president has consistently kept
personal control over all public af-
fairs, and that in every department
1pf the government his instructions
have been followed whenever they
s@.hzye been expressed. For example,
Philippe Berthelot. the very active
and powerful general secretary of the
ministry of foreign affairs, sends all
: important papers for approval not
only to; his immediate chief, NJ Ley
CUES, but also to the head of the
state. President Mf!erand. and al
ways complies with whatever in
structions he may receive from the
latter. Again, Finance Minister
af2farsal has been closeted for days
with President Millerand, Investigate
ing with him al important financial
matters
1t Isl astonishing to note that
hardly one word OF criticism has
been uttered even in the most
radical press against this revolu-
tionary cha nge in governmental
= machinery 1t does not even seem
10 have been sufficiently realized.
Thus without the least sign of
sleluctances Trance has tested out
141isl1&V be called a constftu-
III reform after the American
- A. II. u -l
Di4aprofnting Results.
This much having been con-
.teeded. II must be observed that so
Tar the resultsso of the new. system
are disappointing. In the first
abisce. Miiierand was obliged to
cab to power second-rate pariia+
mentarian because none of the
4ront bench leaders would agree
to accept Office under such cir
eumstances, Although an expe-
9 r1enced debater. Leygues lacks per-
eonal authority and prestige. He
-1fAils to inspire that absolute con-
adence which is essential when the
1sndopfion of unpopular measures ic
"a be pressed upon an unwilling
arliAment
q II had, been hoped that the great
personal power of. MiI1erand would
s make upsfor the many Weaknesses
Of his premier. That expectation
) has been totally disappointed.
Here are some of the reasons:
French pariiamentaxians, unlike
American congressman, and per-
= hApa their own predecessors Of
s911kk xeR<s ago, nave lost that
siDenGe ~ 4xecutfve. power which
s1aes1notanqnae into daily contact
18th them The policy Of the
Ic0o0 8Q46{0f49Ht aDeiuS eVoivedf
Any by day In chamber and senate
uu3eF the pressure Of actual de-
ha&es IL that Leagues found
81 SihpAcktcahle to attend all in
fernafionAf conferences. When
talking to Lloyd George lately
z3eyEues had to make decisions be-
yond Mil1er4nd's power to correct
sand. amend -Whs tever be the limi-
tAtjone set upcnl him.. the man who
1egotiates on equal terms with
British and Italian ministers Is at
3aibeFty to impress on them in his
own nanher the foreign policy Of
his own country.
Finally the overpowerfng super
vision exercised by the president
ypf the republic and the admitted
s fact that the premier was only
fh3osinstrument has resulted in per-
hanently injnring the feelings OF
1aoyalty OF the ordinary cabinet
minfsters towards their premier.
who now is in difficulties with
several Of his colleagues. In adj
ditfon personal friction and teal-
s. ousy between the president and
his. nominee to the premiership
hare not been altogether lacking.
T1naid and IneE5cient Policy.
- When the foregoing conditions
are borne in mind the fact that
since Miilerand's election to the
presidency in September French
foreign policy has been conducted
very tfmidly and inefficiently will
prise. A prepaier who sits in the