Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-25
BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS.

| LONDON, July 24--Not only
| France but the other countries of
Europe are filled with nervous appre-
| tensions owing to the French politi-
eel crisis and the downward rush of
| French money values.
The effect of this national calamity
cannot be isolated nor confined within
| the frontiers of France. All the sur
rounding countries are already feel
ing it's repercussion. European com
merce, which for the past eight years
has been going through many pitfalls
! and has been slowly staggering up
| to something like stability, has receiv-
| ed a severe check. France has lost
purchasing power at every lower level
| of its foreign exchange. Belgium,
Italy and England are losing orders
for raw material and manufactured
goods and French custom is drying
up. 1t is impossible to make forward
contracts with a customer whose
| money may be half Its present value
| three months hence.
On the other hand, France is able
to underseli in British and other mar
kets, though this trading produces q
sense of false prosperity and active
| business exactly similar to Germany's
Illusion in the time of her madness
of imitation. Alone in Europe, Ger
many smiles, as it were, behind her
hand at this imitation of her chastity
adventure when the mark went on
it's way to perdition.
All Democracies Menaced.
But this commercial reaction due
to the French crisis is perhaps less
important than its political aspects,
With France threatened by revolution
ana social upheaval, or at best some
form of dictatorship Ill suited to
French mentality and tradition, there
Is ne sense of security in Europe.
There Is indeed a weakening of con-
f1dence in future peace and order and
a general uneasiness about all demo-
cratic progress and safety. Democracy
itself and all systems of self-goverr-
faent by parliamentary representa-
ton are menaced. France, even more
than England, is one of the last
strongholds of democratic liberty of
the Eastern Hemisphere. More than
that, France by her military strength
and political alliances holds in check
many forces of potential strife. If
that great nation is convulsed by
civil disorder or made bankrupt by
financial chaos, many tigers will be
let out of their cages. The Euro
pean system, held together precari-
ously as it is by the treaty of YER
sailles, will be disintegrated and
host of perilous problems will rush
out with ugly threats of trouble.
Italy Sees Claim Proved.
Italy already proclaims that this
French crisis is but one proof more
that the parliamentary system has
broken down completely in Europe,
apart from England.
"It is not ministries that fall today
in France" says the Italian press.
"It is the regime which has fallen.
Parliamentarism is doomed and
damned"
That may be true. Looking around
at all these relationships in Europe
and this deplorable situation in
France, one cannot deny this failure
OF democratic self-government, but 1t
is not pleasant to think that democ-
racy, after it's centuries of struggle
for liberty, should have signed its
own death warrant. For that Is what
dictatorship means, however much we
may admire Massolini and his mira
cles. 1t means that power has
passed from peoples to one-man gov
eminent, or to government by con-
syls or committees ruling by decree
ing. Temporarily, it may be for the
peoples benefit. 1t may realize their
aspiration and inspire them with new
ardor and enthusiasm and national
spirit as In Italy today, but it is not
good form of permanent government.
It Is not based upon popular liberties.
In my opinion, it does not make for
world peace.
III Treaties No Safeguards.
This nervous tension In Europe, due
to the French weakness and loss of
self-control, Is being exploited and ex
aggerated by certain dark prophecies
of disaster about to befall this
troubled world. For some time, both
in France and England and even,
believe, In America, numbers of spirit
ualistic mediums, parlor prophets and
other fnystics have been foretelling a