Evening star., 1927-11-06
BY FRANK III. SIMONDS.

NARIS.--The almost simultaneous
- assembling of the parliaments
in Britain, France and Germany
i marks the beginning Of a politi.
cal season Of utmost impor-
tance. In France and Germany GER
tainly, in Great Britain probably, the
next IL months will see a general elec-
ton.
On the outcome of these elections
may depend the real issue Of peace or
war in Europe. 1t is at least true that
the general direction of events will be
influenced profoundly and that Euro
pean conciliation may be hastened or
long delayed, precisely as liberal or re-
dictionary influences triumph at the
polls.
The French situation in some ways
is at once the most confusing and the
most important. There is every pros
pect that the French election will pre-
cede both the German and the British.
Coalition Government.
At the moment, France is governed
by coalition cabinet, made up of ele-
ments as incongruous as might have
been brought together if, in 1912, the
late William j. Bryan and the late
Col. Roosevelt had combined forces.
This coalition government, which has
Poincare as its head and BRAND in
charge of it's foreign relations, is the
direct result of the crisis which fol-
lowed the collapse of the franc in the
Summer Of 1926.
At the last general election in
France In 1924, victory fell to a conf
bination of the radicals. The immedi-
ate cause of the defeat was the new
tax meaures imposed by Poincare, but
the underlying cause was the collapse
of Poincare's foreign policy, which cul'
minated in occupation of the Ruhr.
The combination which defeated
Poincare was made up not only of
radicals and radical republicans, who
might be compared to our Progress.
sives, but also of the out-and-out So.
| cialists. Thus the Socialist leader
Leon Blum, could always call the po'
| litical tune and the radicals had to
| dance. AS consequence, Herriot
| the first cartel premier, was driven to
| undertake a considerable number of
| dangerously extreme policies, such as
| the revival of the old pre-war struggle
between church and state. In a short
time the unity in French political life
| which had endured throughout the
war was destroyed, and France was
| torn by bitter domestic quarrels.
For the moment, these domestic dis
cords were obscured abroad by the
success of Herriot in the foreign field
where, in association with Ramsay
| Macdonald, he took the first steps
along the pathway which led to Lo
carno. But Herriot fell presently as
consequence of his domestic failure
Painleve, who followed, was not more
successful. BRAND, who came still
later. was unable to carry the burden
OF domestic failure long.
Franc Crashes Down.
| A year ago last Summer the Carte
des Gauches, which had won the eiec
ton Of 1924, collapsed. It had brought
France to bankruptcy. While the
franc went crashing down, the last eff
fort of the cartel to hold Office, dis.
closed in an attempt to recall Herriot
as prime minister, was met by a pop-
ular demand, expressed before the
Chamber Of Deputies, that the poll.
ticians should be lynched or thrown
into the Seine.
Poincare was hastily recalled to
power at the head of coalition min
istry which contained leaders of all
parties save the Socialists and the
Communists and was designed exclu.
sively to save the franc. There was
the more or less explicit agreement
that while Poincare should direct the
domestic policies of the new cabinet,
BRAND should continue to direct for.
eign policy and, in fact, follow the Lo.
carno lead.
Since July, 1926, Poincare has been
able to save the franc. The French
financial situation has been entirely
changed; the franc has been stable
for many months, the budget has been
balanced. Public confidence has been
restored and millions of French money
which had sought foreign asylum have
come back.
But as the election approaches the
situation of the Radicals has become
exceedingly awkward.
Cling to Power.
IT the present coalition is to be con-
tinued, then the Radicals must put
away all hope of having absolute
power. And the Radicals have not the
smallest desire to do that. Neverthe.
less, since they claim credit for the
coalition achievement, they are now
being asked the disagreeable question.
III the coalition has produced great
results, what reason exists for dis.