Evening star., 1921-09-25
CONF FUSION IS seen
in FRENCH POLITICS:
'Tardieu Says BRAND Is Sup
ported Through Dread Of a
Ministerial Crisis.
by ANDRE TARDIEU.


BY Cable to The Star.
! PARIS, September 24.-Parliament-
Z ary life in France will be resumed
October IS, and already there is activ-
ity in the lobbies of both chambers.
To understand what may ensue
when parIiment gets under way, to
get the significance of certain moves
that may be made. q statement of the
party line-up is necessary. The situ-
alton is likely to become extremely
confused. because the ajority of the
present members of the chamber arc
without political training.
The chief feature of the 1919 cleo
tions was a spontaneous demand for
something new. Probably the voters
did not know exactly what they
sought. They did want union. They
were tired OF the old religious qaur-
rc!s. They dreamed OF great ma
tional effort for reconstruction and
development OF the resources of the
country.
The result of this aspiration was a
severe setback to the pre-war poll
ticians, notably the radical socialist
party, which for fifteen years had
governed France, usually in coalition
with the socialists. The name ''radi-
cal socialist is purely a party label.
The members of the party are neither
very radical nor very socialiStically
inclined, but are liberal and anti
clerical. This party was crushed at
the elections for the chamber with
universal suffrage prevailing, but got
revenge two months later when the
senatorial elections were held under
limited suffrage. Thus it maintained
a strong influence over local ad-
ministrations, which for fifteen years
had been recruited from among it's
followers. l emphasize this fact be-
cause II dominates the present situa-
ton and explains the deep confusion.
Government Not in Majority.
So in the chamber we have an anti
socialist, religiouSiy liberal and po-
jitIcaliy moderate ma ajority. But
pel1her the government nor the local
administrations really represent this
majority Ry q strange paradox our
ministers of the interior for the past
two years formerly NJ. Steef and now
". ". liarraad' have been taken from
the ranks. of the radical socialists,
who were overwhelmed in 1919. The
party's satisfaction in this is shown
by its faithful support of Premier
Ir1and and: its opposition to sending
an ambassador to the Vatican. The
whoie idea OF this defeated party is
10 prepare for victory in the elections
Two and half years hence. For this
II needs the good will of the minister
~ the interior and his projects, and
these are now secured.
Fear Ministerial Crisis.
we have therefore the further
paradox of a parliamentary majority
neins combatted all over the country
6F agents of a cabinet which that ma
1orlty maintains in Office You NAV
Well ask why it is that a majority
upholdS with votes a cabinet whose
agents are lighting it. The answer is
mat being composed politically of in
e experienced men the majority hesi-
tdtes 10 assume the responsibility of
ministerial crisis. Moreover. on ac-
cuont of this same inexperience the
majority deputies are highly suscep-
t1oie TO oratory and when BRAND.
with his old-fashioned stump style.
icies, they allow themselves to be
charmed by his words They realize
tnat for ten months France has been
yielding on all sides the rights she
won during the war. But these prob
lens are so complicated the majority
cannot follow the details and after
sporadic outbursts of protest, it soon
retapses into resignation.
This odd combination of testiness
at one moment and resignation the
next is the first thing that strikes one
in the lobbies today. The majority
recognizes that u change is necessary,
but this same majority is not resolv-
cd to make 1t. The ministry Is being
bitterly aSsailed and is without solid
support, but that does not mean it
Will be overthrOwn on the convening
of parliament. The sessions are re-
Sumed on the eve of the Washington
ornaments conference. from which
Premier BRAND is sure to make
capital
Strong Leader Wanted,
To put into execution a budget for
25,000.000,O00 francs. not including
pensions and reconstructions, and to
raise an equivalent sum in taxes,
meaning four or five billions of new
taxation. the deputies would like
strong leadership. 1t is almost unani-
mously agreed that such leadership is
lacking, but the deputies vainly ask
each other where they are to find it
and how they are to install it in
power.
France has no such terrible causes
of unrest as Great Britain. with Ire
land, Egypt and India forever to be
considered. But France has two DOM
inent problems. One is safety and the
other is reparatiOnS. Or you might
say that France has but one problem
Germany. The chamber realizes
that it is its vital duty to solve this
problem, but thus far it has not dis
covered a method. That is why there
is so much hesitation. embarrassment
and pessimism in political circles.
A leader is wanted who knows
where he is going.