Evening star., 1934-02-05
|0NE-MAN REGIME
SEEN FOR FRANCE
Present Threat of RevoIu-
ton Linked With Aus.
trian Crisis.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.


The State Department and WASH
1ngton diplomatic circles are follow
ing with intense interest the dramatic
developments in Europe, and especially
in France and Austria.
The question Of Austria becoming q
Nazi state and eventually q part Of
the Third Reich is closely linked with
the troubled internal political situa-
ton in France, where the Daladier
government is facing very serious
trouble.
In spite Of the eleventh. hour shift
to the left, reports from Paris indi-
cate the Daladier cabinet will not be
able to survive for more than a few
days.
The Chamber Of Deputies is greatly
impressed by the popular manifesto
tlons against the present system Of
government and, unless the govern
ment can show greater strength than
it has heretofore, will follow the voice
OF the mob and refuse a vote of con-
f1dence to Daladier.
Instructive RevoIutionaries.
The idea of a strong non-political
government to deal drastically with
the dishonest officials who have been
honeycombing the French government
Is gaining ground rapidly.
The Parisians are instinctively revo-
lutionaries, and all the great moves in
France always have started from the
capital.
The trend in Paris today is again to
make clean sweep of everything and
try system Of government similar
TO that which has proved successful
so lar IN Italy, Germany and Russia.
According to reliable reports re-
ceived in Washington, the question Of
the dissolution of the French Cham
Der Is a matter Of days, or weeks, at
most.
1t is an ominous sign for the French
government that the police, an insti-
tuition faithful to the republican form
of government, no longer is reliable,
and Daladier has been compelled to
call in units Of the French Army from
outside Paris.
The men of the right also are gain
ing strength with the public, because
their darkest predictions regarding
Germany are by way of being fulfilled.
Have Proved Fiasco.
The uncertain policies of the Social
ist governments, which have sue
ceeded each other since the end Of
the war, have proved a complete
fiasco
The sanctity of the Versailles treaty
has proved futile. In spite Of the de-
termination of the French govern
ments to keep alive that treaty, the
Germans have managed to kill 1t bit
by bit. First they succeeded in can
ceiling the reparations. then they
started arming. despite the clauses Of
that treaty, and, finally, in accord
ance with the reports from Berlin,
Vienna and Geneva, the question Of
absorbing Austria as part Of the
Reich, is now matter of few weeks.
Thus the opponents of the present
French political system say that
France while giving up peacemeal
the most important clauses of the
Versailles treaty, has managed also
to antaeonize Germany and is by
way Of losing the support Of her
allies, who are afraid that in the long
run, Germany may become a better
bet for them than France.
While following this weak policy,
the French governments have man
aged to pile up a tremendous deficit.
caused mainly by the expenses for
the national defense. These amount
to several billion francs every year
and are likely to increase. because
France is getting more isolated.
Nation Loses Heavily.
The total balance of the policies
OF the French governments Of the
left. its opponents say, is q loss of
prestige in the world; an increased
deficit when only few months ago
France was the most prosperous ma
tion in the world: complete loss of
public confidence in the present
rulers. who have proved either incom-
petent or dishonest.
Under these circumstances, the op-
ponents of the Government say, the
time has come for a complete clean
up. If France wants to maintain its
traditional position as leading
power in the world.
The idea of a "one-man govern.
ment" is gaining favor in Paris. The
provinces. which have always been
stanch supporters of the democratic
form OF government, have lost their
faith in the present rulers, too. The
Bayonne scandal has caused a tre-
mendous loss to tens of thousands
OF people in the French provinces.
and the government in Paris is ac-
cused Of having connived with those
who have fleeced the public.
Consequently the government can
not bank on the support of that i'm
portant section Of France which ap-
pears today discontented and passive.
1t Is because Of this situation that
the leaders of the "one-man" form of
government believe the time has come
to strike and change the parlia-
mentary system, which they believe
responsible for Frances pliobt