The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-07
Foreign Comment
Paris bureau of Tie Consolidated Press,
10 re de lElysee.
Will CaiIIaux Return?

March March Els Nine Joseph Caillaux
who the eve of the war in 1914, shot and
killed CASTOR Calmette, about to become direc-
tor of the newspaper which Calmette edited
| the Figaro?
| Certainly she will not have the title. but it
/ Is becoming more and more likely that she and
/ her husband, now banished from politics by
! decree of the French high court, will be the
real powers behind the papers new policy
! The Caillaux case created an international
sensation in the summer of 1914, and there
are many today who believe it was a major
factor in precipitating the war. The Figaro had
published a series of letters written years be-
fore by Caillaux to his future wife. They con-
tanned phrases never intended for publication.
Nine Caillaux driven to desperation, went to
Calmette's office and shot him dead
After long trial which led into the wild
est political ramifcations, the lady was acquit-
ted The jury decided that her action was JUS
titled
Subsequently Caflaux was sentenced to ban
ishment for communications with the enemy"
during the war. The trial of Cailaux-a for
mer prime minister and man of tremendous
political iniuence-was eagerly followed in
America, where undoubtedly the weight of opin-
ion against him. However, there was so
much internal French politics entangled in the
affair that it is doubtful if the true story of the
Caillaux affair has ever been told abroad. Call
laux is a paCifst, liberal, an enemy OF "big
business" and high finance" and has always
upheld a policy of peaceful understanding with
Germany Naturally this attitude was not pop
ular in the midst of war and its passions.
CalliauX has been in banishment-that is he
is deprived of political rights and forbidden to
visit Paris-for four years. There are evil
dences that he is planning to come back He
has large and faithful following. The latest
in his favor, it is believed. is the pur-
chase by the perfumer Coty of controlling in
terest in the Figaro. NJ Coty has not yet di-
vulged his purposes, but he is a member of the
radical-sociaist party, which is the party of
Caillaux. (The party is neither radical
socialist, but liberal and anti-clerical)
Figaro the Barber of Seville" is turning
perfumer says the wits.
Coty has been buying Figaro shares for five
years, much to the discontinue of the editors
of the paper Two of them. the political and
literary directors, Alfred CapuS and Robert de
Flers, abruptly left the paper a few weeks ago
and went over to the Caulois which is another
conservative and clerical paper. But they are
faced with another dilemma, for Coty and
his associates have obtained control of the eau
lois also and intend to consolidate the two
sheets.
The present editor of the Figaro. NJ Louis
is now writing daily, under the cap
ton THE Money-Changers in the Temple" Wig
orous editorials against NJ. Coty denying his
right mere owner to dictate the papers edi-
torial policy. But NJ. Latzarus has not many
more days ahead of him in which to continue
this campaign, for the reorganization" of the
papers staff is impending
1t will be one of the strangest events in the
history of journalism if the Figaro that Gibral |
tar rock of every principle that is hostile to !
"Caillautisme" should become the organ of the |
exiled pacifist. Yet that is what seems most !
likely to happen. After disposing of the hostile
editor by the Observation-Disclosures Nine. Gail |
laux is apt to find herself ruling in his place. |
Unhappy Paul DeschaneI, carried for brief |
moment 10 the pinnacle of power in France has !
fallen to the point where he is not even per- |