The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-25

ttcians, notably the radical socialist party which for l years had gov erncd eFrance notably in coalition with the Socialists. The name rad teal socialist is purely party label. The members of the party are neither very radical nor very social istical1y inclined, but are liberal and anti-clerical. This party was crushed at the elections for the chamber with universal suffrage pre- vailing. but got revenge two months later when the senatorial elections were held under limited suffrage Thus it maintained strong influence oven. local administrations which for l years had been recruited from among it's followers. l emphasize this fact because 1t dominates the present situation and explains the deep confusion
 So. in the chamber we have an anti-socialist, religiously liberal and politically moderate majority. But neither the government nor the local administrations really represent the majority By a strange paradox OUT ministers of the interior for the past two years, formerly M. Steef and now NJ Marraud, have been taken from the ranks of the radical
 
 1919. The party's faction in this IA shown by it's faithful support of Pre- mier Briand and its opposition to sending an ambassador to the Vati- can. The whole idea of this defeat- ! ed party is to prepare for victory in the elections two and one-half l years hence. For this it needs the good will of the minister of interior and his prefects, and these are now secured.
 Unusual Paradox
 We have therefore the further par | adoX of a parliamentary majority | being combatted all over the country by agents of q cabinet which that majority maintains in office. You may well ask why it is that a ma jority upholds with vote cabinet whose agents are fighting it. The answer is that being composed polit- ically of inexperienced men, the ma jority hesitates to assume the respon- sibility of a ministerial crisis. More- over. on account of this same mex perience, the majority deputies are highly susceptible to oratory, and when Briand with his old-fashioned stump style, explains the advantages of his policies, they allow themselves to be charmed By his words. They TedllZ6 IIdL lOl lU iilOiitio iohNN hehS been yielding on all sides the rights she won during the war. But these p1 oblems are so complicated the ma jcrity cannot follow the details, and 6 fter sporadic outbursts of protest it soon relapses into resignation.
 This old combination of testiness at one moment and resignation the next, is the first thing that strikes one in the Hobbies today. The ma jority recognizes that a change IS necessary, but this same majority is not resolved to make it. The minis try is being bitterly assailed and IS without solid comfort, but that does not mean it will be overthrown on the converting of Parliament. The sessions are resumed on the eve Of the Washington armament confer ence, from which Premier Briand IS sure to make capital
 Want Strong Leadership
 To put into execution budget for 25,O00, ,000, ,000 francs, not includ- ing pensions and reconstructions, and to raise an equivalent in taxes, mean ing four or five billions of mex taxa tion, the deputies would like strong leadership.
 France has no such terrible causes of unrest as Great Britain with lre-