Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-27
An o. K. for Laval.

Ever since his return from the United
States a few weeks ago, M. Laval has
been under fire within and without
the French Chamber of Deputies on
the suspicion of having given away
at washington more than he received.
In the early hours of this morning the
premier was handsomely indicated in
three separate Chamber votes of con-
fidence. On the last one, which was
evidently regarded as the supreme test,
the governments majority was more
than two to one, 1926 votes having been
cast in its favor against only $50 in
opposition. Having expected at most
q margin Of thirty, M Laval and his
supporters are entitled to feel that
their triumph is of landslide dimen-
EionS.
The French statesman who was re-
Gently our guest evidently considers that
the educational character Of his mis-
sion to the United States is the one
deserving of emphasis because, as he
claimed in the Chamber yesterday, 1t
had removed many American misappre-
tensions regarding French policy. M.
Laval believes his visit to President
Hoover was, therefore, fruitful in posi-
tive results" The premier says we mo
longer think that France wants to
dominate other peoples" He made us
understand, deputies were Informed,
what sacrifices France has made in
behalf of disarmament, and Americans
know now that the French are think
ing only of maintaining their own Sc
curity."
There was an interesting passage OF
arms between the opposition and the
government on the subject OF the
"FIoover moratorium France sub
iected herself to good deal OF
criticism in Washington and other
capitals last Summer for holding up the
approval of the one-year debt holiday
proposal. M. Blum, Socialist deputy,
charged the French cabinet with
responsibility for precipitating the fall
Of the British pound as the consequence
of delay in acceptance Of the Hoover
plan. M. Flandin, the finance minister,
defended the governments action on
the ground that otherwise France would
have lost the non-postponabl slice Of
reparations. Whether M. Laval touched
upon this delicate subject while at the
White House has never been related.
Thus the Laval regime has weathered
IT, -
as the result of the premier's excursion
to the United States. Now that he hap
PLY has been spared the ignominy Of
expulsion from Office as the result Of
it, it may not be out of place to say
that over here we have not quite under
stood why the fruits of his mission
should ever have been challenged in
France. Perhaps a smokescreen was
thrown up for the purpose Of ninimiz-
ing the actual dimensions of his sue
cess at Washington. In leaving America
without having surrendered a jot or
little Of Frances position on disarma-
ment, In securing from President
Hoover a pledge not to embark upon
any more moratorium adventures and
in obtaining American acceptance of
the principle that further generosity to
Germany on reparations must be bar
gained for strictly within the frame
work of the Young plan and be dis
cusSed only on Europes initiative
having returned to France with all
these understandings tucked away in
his portfolio, the impression took root
hereabouts that M. Laval brought home
the bacon.