Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-22
BY ANDRE SIEGFRIED,
Famous French Economist.

~ EMARKABLE results, thanks to
M, Poincare's craftsmanship.
~ have lately been achieved In
i France; thanks to his energy
skill and profound knowledge OF
French political psychology. house
which had fallen to anarchy has been
disciplined, and the franc, which had
reached extraordinarily low levels, has
recovered and been effectively stabil-
tied.
The wonder of such a recovery is, of
course. due mainly to the country itself.
but the political aspect of Poincare's ac-
ton is hardly less interesting, as 1t
throws a curious light on the psychology
of the French political parties. Although
the new Chamber of Deputies, recently
elected. may not follow the prime min
lister with the same docility as the last
one, and although some OF the follow
ing comments may soon belong to the
past, 1t is worth discussing here what
could be called the political basis OF the
Poincare regime.
Liberty Has to Be Won.
II should never be ignored that in
France political liberty has had to be
won against the persistent resistance of
the powers of the past. Before gaining
power French Republicans had to fight
for a century against kings, emperors,
priests and mobiles. Such long tradi-
ton of opposition to a certain extent
has perverted. with them--or at least
with the most advanced of them-thc
right sense of government. Many radi-
calls and Socialists instinctively feel
tempted to consider order and authority
as being synonymous of reaction. When
cabinet is willing to fulfill its normal
duty--which is to keep order against
breakers of internal peace. to get taxes
voted, to let the state live--it Is extreme
~ seldom that the extreme Left Of the
house supports him, even when such
to the majority.
Such is the story of nearly every Left
cabinet, even when the radicals consti-
tute the axis of the majority. Sooner
or later there comes a moment when. In
order TO push the budget through or to
obtain urgent military credits. the gov
eminent depends on the votes of the
Center or of the Right.
The logical conclusion is that, in
France no strong government can live
without the Right. But during the last
half century nobody has succeeded in
forming, at least for quite some time.
any Right cabinet which has lasted. The
reason is that. although the conserva-
tive spirit Is strong. the conservatives
have no driving power on the masses.
Cannot Satisfy Man in Street.
Neither a government of the Left nor
a government of the Right can COM
pletely satisfy 1.-THE man in the street"
At bottom the French voter socially Is
moderate. but politically he is pro-
greSsive.
In fact. we always have to face
deep political contradiction: II it relies
solely on the support of the Left a
cabinet finds 1t difficult to practice
a really sound financial policy, because
it cannot resist the suggestions of the
extremists and because 1t therefore Is
unable to satisfy the material interests
of the people II, on the contrary, the
cabinet relies on the support OF the
Right, it may happen that the purses of
some feel comferted. but the reaction
airy influences which control the gov
eminent inevitably shock and frighten
the deep iaique and democratic senti-
nent Of the mass.
Given that psychological guide, the