The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-04-01

ton and against the ferment in the proleta1isS
by attempting to increase the exchange of goods
between the countries of Central Europe, before
all, however, by supporting the governments in
question in crushing the insurTectionary u1oves
inents OF the masses of the people.
For the rest, this is only part Of the pro-
gramme. One can remember the furious off
fensive which French Imperialism launched lass
year on the day following the signing of tbs
customs union between Germany and Austria.
With the aid of loans it managed to restore the
order of Versailles and st. Germain In Central
Europe. 1t caused the negotiations between Rue
mania and Germany to be broken off, overthrew
the Bethlen government in Budapest, and ao~
CELEBRATED the collapse of the Austrian Creditanz
stalt. The Hague Court of Arbitration buried
the draft OF German-Austrian customs agreee
ment which Curtius and Schober had already
renowned before the Court had pronounced it's
decision.
But in the course Of this collision France, as
will be remembered, submitted to the European
Commission a constructive programme" thN
contents of which were elaborated by Andrg
Francos-Poncet, the direct representative Of tho
Comite DIES FORCES and the present French Annz
bassador in Berlin. The plan included in paSz
ticular the setting up Of an international HnortA
gage bank, the extension OF system Of granting
Central Europe), the extension Of cartels and
preference agreements. These are precisely
those recommendations which were advocated at
the recent Pan European Conference at Buda-
pest, which even drew up draft plan of CO.
operation OF the banks of Central Europe, An
these items are contained in the plan of a Gus
toms union on which the Paris Cabinet is now
working.
This system which excludes Germany, cons
solidates the hegemony of France. in that. on
the eve Of Lausanne, it enables it to increase its
pressure on Germany, which in this manner
would be cut off from the countries of Central
Europe. 1t is noteworthy that while this COM
bination is being prepared there is prospect OF
ministerial crisis in Bucharest where THU
lescu, who stands for pro-French policy,
SENS likely in the near future to obtain tbs
upper hand over Prince Ghika
Finally there can be no doubt land this is the
third part Of the French plan) that the draft of
an economic Danuban federation Is directed
against the Soviet Union. An incident which
occurred In the Finance Commission OF the
French Chamber reveals this aspect of the ques-
ton still more When Comrade Marcel Cachin
called attention to the heavy military expendi-
ture Of Czechoslovakia, M. Denias exclaimed:
ut Is a good thing that the estimates oS the
War Ministry In Czechoslovakia have remained
nisns II the Prague government h1d reduced
them, then we In Paris would have had DO
increase our ornaments by an amotns coz.
responding to the reduction"
One could not have more open admission
that the Czechoslovakian army is only part Of
the French military apparatus. When one knows
the role of Czechoslovakia in the fight against
the Soviet Union when one remembers the
recent Vanek scandal one realizes the fun signifi-
canoe of this confession. To this we would add
that, in the course of this same sitting OF the
Finance Commission, France guaranteed 10
Czechoslovakia loan of 600 million francs. In
the vote on this loan the socialists withheld
their votes; only Marcel Cachin voted against IL.
Another fact which serves still more to show the
character of the French plan, is the fact that m
leading circles and in French circles at Geneva
the opinion prevails that Poland must also be
invited to join this Danubian Federation.
AS aid for the oligarchies ofCentraI Europe.
as an instrument Of domination in Europe and
as a means in the fight against the Soviet
Union-with these three characteristics the plan
OF customs union fits In pszseetk - -
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