Evening star., 1934-04-29


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has already been reduced 80 per cent
in its gold value and they do not
want the hectic days Of l925-26 back
again when the one aim of any one
who had paper francs was to spend
them
The war veterans organizations in
many districts are becoming a real
political force, just as the American
Legion seeks to become In the United
States. Their pension problem is a
good deal like the American bonus
question. Banded together on a nom
party basis the 100000 ex-soldiers
who fought in the World War got
their first taste Of power when they
caused Parliament to refuse further
payments on the American war debt
The veterans are not, as a rule, radi-
cal or revolutionary-at least, not out
side Paris, Lyons and MarSeilles.
Communists and Royalists are banned
from their ranks. One faction, how
ever, headed by Robert Monnier, IA
vors direct action.
Their program. which has the sup
port Of the people, is electoral re-
form, woman suffrage and pro-
portional representation. They are
pledged to support the Republican
regime and defend constitutional lib
critics. Because of the character,
however. Of the majority of the 10
associations which go to make up
the National Confederation of Vet
Grams. there is a possibility of 1t
being captured" by the reactionary
and aggressive Croix de Feu group
Since the February riots the vet
erans have been holding meetings all
over France and organizing for the
purpose Of arousing public opinion
in the next elections. In this they
have been successful. The sinister
objectives Of some Of the leaders
however, are revealed in a statement
made by Robert Monnier, chairman
OF the Committee on Economic Action
Do Not Want Revolution.
eff the government does not meet
our demands" he says, cit will then
be the hour for direct action for our
seizure Of power. We do not want a
revolution, but broad evolution. That
is possible and We want it clearly
understood. If it is not we shall &c
down into the streets"
If the Doumergue government fails
to restore public confidence, and is
unable to solve the Stavisky and
Prince cases, the Ancient Combatants
most certainly will "go to the coun-
try" If they do not take ito the
streets" And there is every reason
to believe that they will have able
leadership, which they did not have
in the Paris demonstrations. They
may even be armed.
The much-feared (by the Socialists
and Workers. Croix de Feu organiza-
tion Of Col. de Ia ROGUE is gaining
many recruits in the country. In
Paris alone 1t numbers around $4,000
and another 10000 members are or.
ganizing in the small communities o1
the various departments. Nearly
every member is potential leader
being an ex-off1cer or decorated
soldier. When they strike next time
they will have definite objective
their chiefs declare.
While the Royalists seem to have
no important following in the coun-
try, neither have they any deter
mined opposition. They are tolerated
as are the Communists. To the aver
age Frenchman Royalist is a "snob'
and aristocrat. Others are enthusi-
astic students or intellectuals. They
are regarded by the common people
as misguided zealots.
Recently, however, there have been
serious clashes between the Camelots
de Roi and the Communists. AT
Heinen-Leistal, near Lens, where the
Royalists sought to organize. there
were 40 casualties, including dead
after one meeting.
Secret Arming Charged.
The Royalists are alleged, by lie
Jour, Paris newspaper. to be secretly
arming. One clandeStine shipment OF
arms is reported to have included
$4,000 rifles. 1t came from Holland
and was run across the border in
motor trucks and delivery made in a
Paris suburb. Thus far police seiz-
ures-made public-have been con-
fined to small stores taken from Com
munist headquarters. One cache
yielded 40 Browning rifles, automatic
revolvers and two sacks of cartridges
Machine guns of Swiss and German
make are reported to have crossed the
Franco-Swiss and Saar Territory
frontiers and machine gun rifles
similar to those used by American
gangsters are reported to have en-
tered the country through Channe
ports. coming from England. The
police, realizing the uselessness Of re.
volvers against submachine guns, are
particularly worried over possible
street fighting.
L'Oeuvre, a responsible Paris daily
reveals that extremist political groups
have already armed themselves. M
Maurras, colleague Of the Royalist
editor. Leon Daudet, openly appeals
for millions Of francs" to buy arms
in an article In L'Action Francaise
French women's clubs are known tc
have subscribed 100000 francs to the
Royalist war chest.
While the government officially be-
Titles the danger. Marshal Petain
minister Of war, and Albert Sarraut
also cabinet member, have been des-
ignated to conduct an inquiry into
the reported arms traffic, which is an
indication Of how seriously it really
takes the situation. Orders for strict
est control of the sale of fire arms
and other lethal weapons have been
issued. and dealers must report all
purchasers to the police.
If the clandestine arms-which un-
doubtedly are circulating in France
| are ever used, it will probably not bt