Evening star., 1922-05-28
PREPARATIONS GRIP
EUROPEAN MINDS
Tardieu Says France Wants
More Than Promises From
Germany.
BY ANDRE TARDIEU,
Former Freneh High Com nissIoner to
the United states.

sne CuAte0 St0ten.
BY Cable to The STAR Copyright, 1872
PARIS, May 27.-The German repa-
rattons problem continues in sus-
pense. 1t is the most serious matter
engrossing the attention of Europe
today. II is certain, however, that
there VIII be no sensational develop
ments on May 81. This. of course, is
because that date is not the final
moment either for execution or
payment, as has been enormously
suggested in certain quarters, but
simply the time limit within which
Germany must announce her accept
ance OF her obligations. All that
Germany need do. therefore, Is to put
signature to paper before them, and
1T Is probable that an agreement on
the text of the reply will have been
reached by the German officials by
that time.
This does not mean that promises
made will be fulfilled or payments
will be effected. And what interests
France and the French public is not
what Germany will promise, but what
she will fulfill
Whole Policy Debated. :
After six weeks of idleness parlia-
ment reconvened and initiated a de-
".
account of the recent elections to the
local legislative bodies-conseils gen.
eraux-with their significant changes
In political complexion, many of the
members We're more engrossed in do
! mestic affairs than in foreign.
The general view is that France
came through Genoa without serious
| loss. Nobody pretends that we played
brilliant nor predominant role, 1t
Is confessed that We missed the op-
portunity to take the Leadership D
against the soviets on the private
ing next month is envisaged with DIS
favor. but altogether the majority In
Parliament is ready to wipe the slate
clean and think Of something else
The Poincare government profits by
this attitude.
Internal Policy Setback.
AS for internal politics. the depart
mental elections show slight but
unmistakable setback for the policy
which triumphed at the parliament
tary elections in 1919. The so-called
left parties, consisting of the i'm
! moral alliance between the radical
socialists. liberal anti-clerical and
communists. gained some seats. The
majority can find a useful warning
| in this; but still more. they can find
cause for complaint against the gov
ernment. which. under the pretext of
political neutrality. gave free reign
to the state officials throughout
France. These men, who were ap-
pointed before the war, when the
| radical socialists were in power. used
| the opportunity to exercise improper
pressure at the polls. This action has
made the majority in tho chamber
| decidedly angry and it may cause
serious trouble for Poincare in June.
At the bottom, whether in foreign
or domestic affairs. the real struggle
! is between the old personnel and old
! methods, on the one side, and the
younger generation, which is work
ing with me and is tired of the
| monotonous routine to which France
has succumbed since the CIemenceau
government resigned. In all likeli-
hood the younger group will take the
helm before the parliamentary cleo
| tions in April, 1924. and probably as
early as the beginning of 1928. Tn
| less this happens the sterile delays of
recent months would result in a
strong shift Of opinion toward the
bloc des gauches. 1, myself. believe
the latter change can be avoided and
| will be.