Evening star., 1934-11-18
BY FRANK H. SIMONDS.
THE situation consequent upon
the cabinet crisis in France and
the fall of Doumergue has two
L quite different asDectS-the One

the cabinet crisis in France and
the fall of Doumergue has two
L quite different aspects-the one
purely French. the other Euro
pean. AS to the former. it may unfold
slowly or 1t may produce a domestic
crisis overnight. Its consequences are
therefore unpredictable. Like the
United States, France confronts a
breakdown of its old political system
and methods The period of adjust
ment is, moreover. likely to be diff
cult. For new problems there is de-
manded a new technique and the
French, like the American people, are
exceedingly tenacious and conserva-
tive in their political methods as they
are revolutionary in their political
manners.
But unlike the United States
France is not isolated but the very
center of an entire system which
was the result of the war and which
depends upon the continuing strength
of France for its very existence And
as in the past year French strength
to bear the burden of maintaining that
system has been diminishing the Eu-
ropean system has been disintegrating
So it is not impossible that the pres
ent crisis in France may have as its
immediate consequence complete
Transformation Of the continental sit
uation.
Looking back to 1920 it is possible
to fix time when the French emerged
from the restrictions of policy which
had been imposed upon them by the
defeat of 1870 and the rise of Ger
many to European prjmacy. Through
out the World War and in the Paris
Peace Conference the French were
dominated by the conviction that their
future security depended upon close
association with the Anglo-Saxor
states That was the basis of the
Treaty Of Versailles and the Tripartite
Treaty of Guarantee which Wilson
and Lloyd George gave France in re-
turn for remuneration of her claim tc
permanent occupation of the left bank
of the Rhine.
Difficulty for France.
With the reputation of that pledge
by the American Senate and the con-
sequent lapse of British promises
France was brought face to face with
the prospect of having to oppose Ger
many single-handed. She was also
confronted by the deliberate purpose
of Lloyd George to re-establish bal
ance of power in Europe by German
recovery. In such a situation as ht
sought to restore, Lloyd George be-
lieved Britain would have security
because she could always hold tht
balance between the French and tht
Germans
The French defeated Lloyd Geor'
gian strategy by establishing a system
of alliances with all the succession
states-Poland. CZechoslovakia, Yugo-
slavia and Rumania-which enabled
them to dominate Europe. prevent
German recovery and maintain the
status quo created by the treaty OF
Versailles. Essential to the perma
nence of that system. however. was
primarily the internal duty of France
and second a community of interests
between France and her allies.
The ultimate consequences OF the
great depression. which began to bt
felt sharply in France only in 1888
gradually undermined the internal
unity of France. Deflation progres.
sively produced economic prostratior
and social unrest And as France grew
weaker at home her influence abroad
diminished. By contrast, the triumph
of Hitler in Germany established &
new regime in the Reich determined
to challenge the French situation
When the Germans quit the League O.
Nations in 1888 the allies of Franc,
looked to her for swift and decisive
military intervention such as the oc
cupation of the Ruhr had been.
Control Found Slipping.
Paralyzed by her domestic problems
France found her control of Europe
beginning to be less sure For domi
mating the situation herself, sht
drifted toward a partnership with
Fascist Italy. But the basic principle
of Mussolini had been to turn Ger
many away from Austria by recognlz'
ing her right to territorial revision il
the east and arms parity. And Po'
land. fearful of German purposes II
the east and doubtful of French abil'
ity or willingness to defend Polisf
frontiers, presently made her non
aggression pact with Berlin and ap
peared to retire from the French
partnership.
The same thing happened in tn
case of Yugoslavia, which had beer
allied herself with Italy while Franco
Italian relations were unpleasant, bu
which saw the drift of Paris ant
Rome toward each other as weaken
ing French support. Italy was tn
mortal foe of the Serbs Germany wa
not an enemy. AS between Italian
and German control in Vienna tn
Serbs preferred the latter And Ger
many could provide what neithe
France nor Italy could offer-a marke
for Yugoslav agricultural products
Rumania, like Yugoslavia, could max
terms either with Berlin or Franc,
with obvious profit. And the Ru
manians, like the Serbs. were no
threatened by German designs upol
Austria.
So the French system of alliance
has been crumbling. It was to saw
it that Barthou invited King Alex
ander to France, but assassination
intervened to prevent any agreement
Now, if it be conceivable that domestic
disorder may paralyze French powel
completely for a period of time, i
is far from improbable that a new
grouping of nations will take plac,
in Central Europe wholly to the ad
vantage of the Germans. Italy will
be left single-handed to defend tn,
independence of Austria, while Yugo.
slavia will join Germany in a com.