Evening star., 1921-01-22
Editorial Digest
The French "Crisis. +"

Inc EIE0cQ VIlBlS.
THE fall Of q French cabinet At
tracts more attention in this country
than before the war;" declares the
statement which seems fully justified
by the mass Of comment upon the re-
cent sensational overthrow of Pre-.
mier Leagues with one Of the heaviest
negative votes in the history Of the
present republic. While the majority
tory policy toward Germany a. the
reason for the governments defeat. a
few profess to see beneath the surface
a struggle between the French parlia-
President Millerand to increase the
power Of the chief executive at the
expense Of the senate and the cham
ber.
The New York Times lndependent
da srsa g ss sa that Of wh be A5
President Milierand's experiment in
a check"
according to the Dallas News demo
cratic). was caused by his yielding
too much to presidential promptings
and Lloyd Georges persuasions," and
the new policy to be chosen will prob
ably mean. in the opinion of the
Nt.hhCdPollS
that France proposes to stand over
Germany with sword uplifted." which
action must have serious internal
eHects throughout Europe-particu-
larly in Germany, which may go to
pieces under the strain"
The Cleveland Plain Dealer (inde-
pendent democratic) is of the opinion
that France has indicated her deter
minatfon that there shall be mo COM
piacence; no delays; no lenience; no
dickering." and suggests that while
Leygues was Millerands protege. the
his lack of aggressiveness toward
Germany. Those who hope for mod
Grafton in interpreting the peace
terms. the Springfield Republican (in-
dependent) believes, must read disap-
pointment in the cabinet change.
With more sympa thy for the French
attitude the New York Tribune Gre
publican) says:
France wants to see Germany held
more vigorously to the obligations of
the treaty. She has much to lose by
an extemporized downward revision
will. therefore. stand more strongly
than the outgoing one did against a
waiver of French rights"
Looking at the change in govern
ment more as a reflection of internal
conditions than merely a question of
disagreement on foreign policy. the
publican) sees danger of rush into
radicalism," for it thinks that the
chamber vote was elbow at Presi-
dent Millerand. former President
Poincare, and the conservative politi-
cial elements they lead" and the Christ
ian Science Monitor independently
more in the incident than appears
on the surface" 1t points out that
Leygues began to carve out a policy
of his own" soon after he had come
into Office. although he was supposed
to have been chosen because he would
carry out the views Of the presi-
dent"
Still more emphasis is laid upon
internal politics in France and their
influence upon the fall of the cabinet
by the Topeka Capital (republican).
The fall Of the Leygues ministry
with Germany" 1t declares. but "is
due rather to the premier's auto
cratic character" in his attitude
which was a denial of parliamentary
government ITSELF"
The New York Globe Gndependent) re-
the oath Of Office 1t was predicted that
he would not resign himself to this
role" and 1t is quite possible. it adds,
that he intends to attempt to give
France "a stronger and more arbitrary
executive"
Whatever the causes Of Leygues' fall
ure. there is agreement upon the part of
many writer's that the new appointment
had to be "a compromise" as the Brook
lyn Eagle independent puts) it. French
sentiment demands a strong hand
against the Germans, It declares, and
yet cooperation with England Is de-
manded.
Although recognizing that the atti-.
tude OF Poincare, who represents the
element demanding the utmost of Ger
many. may block Brands Chances for
steering the new government through
the reparations negotiations. the New
lieves that II he 'is allowed a free hand
until the conferences with Lloyd George
he may succeed in reconciling the inter-
ests Of France with those of central
Europe generally"