Evening star., 1924-12-10

BY their comments on the French
Senate's grant of amnesty for for
mer Premier Joseph Caillaux, Amer
lean editors indicate that they do not
yet entertain the spirit of forgiveness
demonstrated by the French officials
themselves.
Right or wrong, my country was
the watchword of France in 1914,
1tngoism was paramount, pacifism
was cursed" recalls the Brooklyn
Eagle, which declares, the same
spirit that produced the unpunished
assassination of Jean Jaures went on
TO produce the condemnation Of
Caillaux and of Malvy. That II is
now weakening, that a spirit Of
amnesty is taking It's place, was
proven by the triumph of NJ. Heriot
at the polls 1t is emphasized by the
amnesty for Caillaux and Malvy." A
France filled with unreasoning hatred
toward Germany. the Worcester Tele-
gram believes could hardly forgive
a Frenchman with the the record Of
NJ. Caillaux. and this the Germans
will not fail to realize" The fact
Is in itself, according to the Reno
Gazette. "a promising sign of i'm
provement, following as 1t does the
approval of the Dawes plan and the
withdrawal of French Interference
with German Industry and German
railroads. 1t all shows how the
passage Of few years will modify
public opinion. observes the Seattle
Times, which says, fortunately for
him he was tried in 1920, at time
when his -offenses had ceased to have
a burning Importance. Now that the
attention of the nation is centered on
the question of establishing perma-
nent peace, forgiving people restore
Ill f,.I1 Ia T& l.
unlikely that Caillaux VIII again rise
to political prominence"
X X y
Perhaps the unfortunate thing In the
restoration of Caillaux to his rights as
French citizen is the fact that II was
accomplished by a radical government"
is the opinion Of the Hartford Times.
which feels, had a more conservative
Chamber voted amnesty to this curious
mixture of passion and brillianey, 1t
would be universally agreed that France
had undone in peace one Of the excited
and nervous things she did In war.
Since 1t was done by the Herriot gov
ernment, some will ascribe the whole
incident, not to the calming of the
French temperament, but to the turbu-
lence of radicalism." The Cincinnati
Times-Star, however, thinks ''the French
Senate did the wise thing. A man like
Caillaux thrives on an assumed martyr
dom. He is more potent when impo-
tent than when he is invested with all
the powers of citizenship" The Louis
Vile Courier-Journal says: "Caillaux Is
still the storm center of France, and
there is little doubt he will continue to
be, for Caillaux will continue In the
limelight, may even be given post in
the Herriot government The heated de-
bate on the amnesty question and the
closeness of the vote are proofs, how
ever, of Caillauxs hold on his people
and also Of how heartily hated he Is by
his enemies"
r " " y
Now that his civil rights are restored.
the Baltimore Sun thinks, Wit will be
surprising II he is not called upon, per-
haps informally. to lend his aid In the
task of strengthening out French
finances. And II he proves capable Of
solving that huge problem without i'm
posing taxes too severe for his over
burdened countrynen to stand, no Office
in their power to bestow will be boz
yond the reach Of Joseph Caillaux. still
vigorous and still fighting radical"
The return of Caillaux. the Buffalo News
observes. 'fs regarded by many with
rfa.f ma