Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-28
BY ANDRE TARDIEU
Former French High Commissioner
to America

Special Cable to The Great Falls Tribune.
Copyright. 1922. BY The Great Falls Tribune.
Paris. May 27.-The German repa-
rations problem continues in suspense.
1t is the most serious matter engross-
ing the attention of Europe tiday. 1t
is certain. however. that there will be
sensational developments on May 81.
This of course is because that date is
not the final moment either for exc
cution or payment-as has been err
roneously suggested in certain quar-
ters-but simply a time limit when
Germany must %nnounce her accept
ance of her obligations. All that Ger
many need do, therefore. is put sigma
ture to paper before her and it 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 promisese
made will be fulfilled or payments will
be effected. And what interests France
and the French public is not what Ger
many viii promise but what she will
fulfill. After six weeks of idleness.
parliament ~reconvened and initiated a
debate of the whole foreign policy. On
account of the recent elections of the
local legislative body-conseils gem
eraux-with their significant changes
in political complexion, many of the
members were more engrossed in do
nestle affairs than in foreign.
France Lost Little
The general view is that France
came through Genoa without serious
loss. Nobody pretendS that we played
a brilliant or predominant role. 1t
is confessed that we missed the OPP
portunity to take the leadership against
the soviets on the private property
question. The Hague. meeting next
month is cnvisagcd with disfavor but,
altogether, the majority in parliament
is ready to wipe the slate clean and
think of something else. The Join
caire government pritits by this atti-
tude.
As for internal politics. the depart
mental elections show a slight but
unmistakable set back for the policy
which triumphed at the parliamentary
elections of 1919. The So-called left"
parties consisted of the immoral al
lance between the radical socialists,
Ideal anti-clerjcals-and communists
gained some seats. The majority can
find a useful warning in this but, still
more. they can find cause for com
plant against the government which
under the preteXt of political neutrality
gave tree rem 10 the state officials
throughout France. These men. who
We're appointed before the war. when
the radical socialists were in power,
used the opportunity to exercise i'm
proper pressure at the polls, This ac-
ton has made the majority in the
chamber decidedly angry and it may
cause serious trouble for Poincaire in
June.
Old Versus Young
At bottom, whether in foreign or
domestic affairs. the real struggle is
between the old personnel and old
methods on the one side and the young
er generation which is working with ne
and is tired of the monOtonous routine
TO which France has succumber since
the Clemenceau government resigned.
In all likelihood the younger group will
take the helm before the parliamentary
elections in April, 1924, and probably
As early as the beginning of 1923. I'm
less this happens, the sterile delays
of recent months would result in a
strong shift of poinion toward the
bloc dcs gauches." /. myself believe
the latter change can be avoided and
will be.