Evening star., 1925-09-22
CAREER OF CAILLAUX In FRANCE
HAS FOUND NO RIVAL In FICTION
jailed During the War,
He Is Now Leader of
Cravest Mission.
Sentiment to Be Absent
From Negotiations on
War Debt.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Fiction contains no more remark
able career than that which will .cul
inmate with the arrival in Washing.
ton this week of Joseph CaillauX
French minister Of finance. Jailed
during the war for illicit communica
ton with the enemy. then exiled from
Paris and hanished from public life,
M. CaillauX comes to the United
States. intrusted with the gravest and
greatest financial mission In French
history. He has already been a pre-.
mier of France. and on two other
occasions a cabinet minister. If he eff
fects for his country. a satisfactory
settlement of the gigantic debt II owes
the United States another premiership
Ia easily within his grasp. The ne
gotiations about to be opened In Wash
ington mean much for the American
taxpayer. But they mean immeasur
ably more for Joseph Caillaux.
Caillaux-the nearest English pro
nunciatior of his name is ky-O-is
a man in the early sixties. He has
been in French politics throughout his
mature life. but did not obtain inter
national renown until the Franco
German crisis in Morocco In 1911. War
was averted over the Agadir episode
that year by the action of Caillaux
then premier. in surrenderinx q strip
of French possessions in Africa n
Germany. He was accused of humil
iating France and encourag ging Ger
many. instead of placating her. But
Catllaux excused the deal on the
ground that through II he obtained
German acauiescence In French amb
tions in Morocco-the same ambitions
now costing France so dearly in blood
and treasure in war against the Riffs
Wife's Murder Trial.
Three years later. in 1914. with
the World War imminent. Caillau,
again dominated public discussion
in France. because of his wife's sen
sational trial for the murder of NJ
Calmette, editor OF lie Figaro. Thu
French We're immersed in that cause
celehre to the virtual exclusion %
everything else in the world. -includ
ing the impending onslaught hy Ger
many. Calmette. an implaca BILE po-
litical foe, of Caillaux, was attacking
the latter in lie Figaro through thu
means of published letters exchanged
between Caillaux and his wife prior
to their marriage. Mime. CaiIlaux
avenginc her own honor. shot ane
Figaro. only to be triumpha ntiy &C.
The great war was now raging
Several succeeding premiers O
France, mistrusting Cailiaux. pre-.
vented his active association with
war activities. Eventually he was
sent to South America on a war mis-
sion 10 Argentina. In 1917 wher
allied fortunes were al their loves
ehb, Caillaux visited Italy and Swift.
Zerland. In those countries it was
charged that he had been In commu,
MICA ton with the German govern
men through indirect cha annels. with
view TO ascertaining on what terms
peace would be made with France
On the strength OF documents found
in his possession. Caillaux was ac-
cused Of conspiring to bring abou
an end to the war which would have
resulted in the imposition upor
France Of disastrous terms. Gail
laux was not alone in his apparen
desire to end Frances agony.
The movement which he represent
ed was called "defaitisme'- defeat L
ism-and 1t was excoriated in his
toric speech delivered by NJ. Clemen
ceau. then premier. in the French
Senate on July %. 1917. A few months
later Caillaux was arrested. and for
more than a year languished as po