Evening star., 1923-12-30
BY ANDRE TARDIEU.

oy naulO 10 lne star.
PARIS. December e4.-Internal
questions, especially economic ones,
seem to be taking precedence over in
ternational affairs IN every country.
Apparently this has happened In the
United States, where the election
campaign has opened and the farmers
nave introduced the economic element
into politics.
1t is true also in England, whel.
the fear of higher prices, resulting
from Prime Minister Baldwins pro-
tectionist proposals, undoubtedly de-
termined the result.
And it Is true in France, where to-
day one hears nothing but talk about
election laws, high prices. salary
demands Of civil servants and admin
istrative reforms.
Several Reasons Exist.
There are several reasons for this
condition of affairs. In the first place,
when a democratic country votes, it Is
inclined to look inward, not outward
Again, economic troubles, which are
the same the world over, are particu-
farly acute in the winter. The third
and last reason--and perhaps the
stron gest-is that the inability Of gov
ernments in the last four years to de-
velop positive solutions for interna-
tional problems has disgusted the
public with foreign affairs. Every
body prefers to fix his attention on
more lowly questions, in connection
with which progress seems possible
Frances financial and economic
situation compels us to consider in
ssrnai ,Tna affairs hsd first. for the sita-
tanned unbelievable heights in the
last few weeks. The index, which
was l in 1914 and 2.3 in 1910. today
Is wavering between 3.8 and As. Con-
comes are suffering to the point Of
Americans In Paris know what this
means, when they consider that a
rs, ess s.n and ocS NTH two
mot quite 400-annually, and cam
not possibly make ends nett. The
is discomfort and agita-
tion.
Government Embarrassed.
The government 10 decidedly en-
pioyes' demands. for state and local
National taxes alone exceed twenty.
four billion francs a year, as COM
before the war. It is agreeable to
note that these taxes cover ordinary
expenses. excluding reparations and
pensions. But II must be remem-
ssred that h at least third of the
mated receipts is directly due to high
prices, since high prices mean q big
ger volume OF business. But this,
again means that the state must
Logically, one should begin by at
tacking the cost Of living, but the
government has done nothing. and
certain ministers have even contrib
excessive protectionism. In 1922, al
though Frances sugar production
was below the nations requirements,
exportation OF sugar was freely per-
this sugar at inflated prices. This
year We are exporting vast quanti-
ties Of cream to England for butter
and cheese making, since England.
AFFORD to pay higher prices. As. .
result, milk is scarce here and the
PAN And. furthermSre. although our
needs we have placed a high duty on
foreign cattle, making meat higher
than ever had been dreamed of. Final
ly, having lost three-quarters of the
German coal previously received, we
have been obliged to buy enormous
quantities In England.
Everybody Is talking about meas
ures to reduce prices. but there is no
sovereign remedy. Prices will fall
when general political, fnauciai and
economic conditions improve. The
francs recent decline. for example, 10
due to political and speculative
causes, for our trade balance has i'm.
proved and the budget situation has
not greatly changed In the past two
years.
Protection General Policy.
Professionalism, indeed, comes under
the head of D general policy, and no
specific remedies can lower prices as
long al the prime necessities meet
parentiy nobody cares to look the
whole problem in the face.
Consequently France stands In a
state of decided unrest. Government
bonds. OF which almost everybody
holds some, have declined. Nanufac-
tnrerS are doing = big bu1ineSa, but