Evening star., 1922-10-29
FRENCH SITUATION
LIKE ENGLAND'S
General Election May Be Ex-
pected in Months, Declares
Andre Tardieu.
BY ANDRE TARDlEl,
Former French High Commissioner
to the United States.

BY Cable Dispatch To The Star
PARIS, October 2S.-The electoral
campaign precipitated by the resig-
nation of Premier Lloyd George adds
to the uncertainty in Europe. Stimuli
taneously the dchate in the French
chamber on the general policy of the
government has stirred up the party
strife in France. Despite the immi-
nence of the Lausanne conference and
another trip of the reparations COM
mission to Berlin, domestic affairs
hold sway everywhere.
TIE English parties have reawak-
ened to what ii means to reject the
coalition which kept Lloyd George in
power 50 many Years. Yet they also
realize that to get along without Il
coalition an actual party majority is
necessary, and there is no indication
that any party will get it at the COM
ing election. Indeed, already there
are SIGNS of rapprochemcnt he
tween the Independent liberals under
NSquith and the conservatives under
Bonar Law. Lloyd George seeks to
form Il new party from the clements
that are dissatisfied with all of the
others. This requires time. and as the
elections approach the campaign con-
Sists largely OF personal attacks and
replies.
y" Change in Policy.
To imagine that Great Britain's for
ciSn policy VIII be chanced-bv the
coming election is folly. Bonar Law.
Ike Lloyd George. will declare in IA
vcr of the Franco-British entente. but
Will face the same difficulty of max
ing the French and British views coin
eide on each point. Bonar Laws
recent letter concerning the near
eastern question shows the difficulty
TO be as great for the new ministry as
Tor the old. All that can happen is
that the internal strife will so occupy
public attention that international
rivalries Will get rest and become
less acute. But after the election the
foreign problems must be met. BY "A
curious coincidence at the very
moment the English conservatives
were revolving against the coalition
The French CIemencist party. through
Georges Mandei, was protesting III the
chamber against French party con-
fusion. Frances existing parliament
tartan situation doubtless is almost
incomprehensible to foreigners. so |
will try to explain it.
In 1919 the voters inflicted crush
ing defeat to the So-caIlei left bloc,
which had governed from 1902 to l9l1
with Cal!iauX as the CHEF parsonage.
and elected a liberal republican ma
Jority That majority ever since has
been incapable of safeguarding: its
victory aud every cabinet has included
representatives OF the conquered party
Mixture in Parties Opposed.
The CIemencist party constantly has
opposed the mixtures of parties in
power and in the chamber. This per-
Sistence at least seems to be com
rnencing to bear fruit. Last January
when forming his cabinet Raymond
Poincare. following NIillerands ex-
ample. sought the support of Herriot
and Doumergue, the leaders of the
CaillauX party. and while the ma jority
pasSi ely let This pass N the time. now
il is very strongly criticized
Like the British conservatives the
French republicans desire a govern
nent formed from among themselves
and which will apply their policies.
which aspiration seems perfectly ieCiti-
mate, since they have the majority 1t
probably will take some time for this
state of mind to be crysta IiZed into
acts But this time can be counted by
months. possibly by weeks.
My prediction of September, 1921
came true in January. 1872. and will
not be surprised if the same happens
again. In short. France, like F.ngla nd.
stending to clarifying her domestic
policies. and if this should extend to
the foreign policies, then so much the
better.