The Omaha morning bee., 1924-05-15
|Caillaux,
an Exile,
Financial Wizard, Accused of
Trafficking With Germany
and Banished, Headed
for Power.
Will Unite Left Wing
BY c. r. BERTELL,
r s....fx. -f.ff Carrasnaad emf

I
Paris. May 14.-France's keenest
financial statesman is on the way
back to Quai D'Orsay. Joseph Call
laux, emerging from the shadow ox
the prison and exile which long bans
ished him from the scenes where his
former power might be recoupedl
stands at the threshold Of the gov.
ernment.
With the restoration OF all hA
political and civil rights foreshadowed
with the coming into power OF the
parties Of the left. he will be invited
to enter, probably as minister OF IL
nance. and soon he again may bA
premier.
This startling development gives
the whole political world thrill.
Two months ago there appeared IN
magazine in New York a story OF
Cafllaux by his long time friend. Rob
ert Dell. The article found no re-
sponse in official circles in France
because the endorsement Of Premier
Poincare at the May 4 elections then
was considered a foregone conclusion.
There was some "scoffing" at the
almost open sentences which said:
Caillaux Power Forecast.
must almost inevitably lead sooner or
later to the return Of Joseph Caillaux
TO power.
For NJ. Caillaux Is probably the
only man in France capable OF unit
ing the left under his leadership. as
he is the only man in French politics
with the necessary financial knowl-
edge 10 pull French rational finance
out OF the morass into which it has
been plunged by years Of muddie and
mismana cement"
The swing TO the left has come.
and all the old ambitions are stirring
in the breast of the inordinateiy am
bilious Caillaux.
In his love OF peace for France
hope for easement Of reparations bur-
dens. Caillaux has gained a hearing
in England and America since his
conviction on reasonable charges. by
writings given large credencs be-
cause of his known financial knovi-
edge. Germany has hope Of new
alignment and a new deal.
Germany Sees Hope.
Because Of his antipathy 10 military
adventures. Germany sees a strong
arm IN the new government lifting
the weight of military occupation in
make Caillaux figure OF first I'M
portance in the present situation.
Ten years ago when Nine. CaiTisux
vent free after shooting 10 death
Editor Calmette OF the Figaro. whose
daily publication OF her husbands
private love letters drove both OF
them almost to the point OF suicide.
the world said the fate of caillaux
was sealed; that he wss doomed
politically.
Yet afterward. by his own sheer
ability and force. he held cabinet
posts and rose a formidable candidate
for the premiership OF France.
Then the long struggle to unhorss
him brought the charges OF treason
anu his eventual aCQuilAAi loAlcNed
by a startling conviction by the een-
ate on a charge that had never been
raised against him OF "treasonsbls
maneuvers and intelligence with the
enemy For this he was sentenced
to three years Imprisonment with
banishment from most Of the prin.
cipai cities Of France.
He lately has begun to resume his
old leadership Of the radicals and to-
day stands out as the opposite Of
Poincars and the latter's militsristie
policy which has failed 70 win IN.
demnity from Germany. He 10
only 81.
Caillaux set out IN fun his program
for the restoration OF Europe in /.
volume written by him in 1923 under
the title WHITTIER France. whithev
Europe" He believes that the ereae
mission Of France is TO lead In the
Reconstruction OF Europe. He would
do this through a revolutionary re-
construction" Should he be made
premier there Is no doubt he would
start upon his revolutionary plans
The most drastic Of his schemes calls
for the establishment Of real democ.
racy In the politics Of France. and.
too faYlaNsnrap.- a, E-rrf-sSh f,1psf-x