The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-07-26
Is
/. CERTAIN, PARIS
| NOW CONVINCED
Coup D'Etat,' Long Over
due, Is Tentatively Set
for October
BY MORRIS GILBERT
NEA Service STAFF CorresDondent.

MA Service stah COTreSDondent.
nARTS, July 2G.-Postponed again
AM again, the long-expected
French coup d'etat" which is to
end democratic government here
once more looms as possible. Two
vell-matched opponents-left wing
and right wing-growl at each other
ferociously. though neither Of them
wants to make the first pass.
Nobody cares to rebel in the sum-
mertime. Vacations loom in Aug
ust. Therefore, if a date must be
set. people talk about October.
One fact, according TO weL-in-
formed observers here. is the IN
portant point about whatever
revolution" France is awaiting to-
day. It viii be a revolution, they
say. from within''-that is, staged
By a government already in power.
That was the way that Napoleon
became dictator. He was already
consul, and his step up to unique
power was made with the help Of
the legislative and executive forces
already functioning in the land.
Mere Seizure of Power
So the next French revolution"
Is likely to begin within semi-legal
lines, and not by mass uprising
OF the populace.
II might pass without bloOdshed
at first, being merely a seizure Of
more powers by the authorities al
ready IN Office, who would control
the army and the all-impOrtant
police and public services.
The purpose would be to establish
government along Fascistic lines
in case the Right happened to be
the agents, or on MarXist lines, in
the other case. Either some kind of
"Corporatism" or some kind of
CommuniSn-such is the predicted
result.
2 That is why the inoffensive AL
bert Lebrun. a mild, fearful gentle
man with charming grandchildren
whom he loves, and who lives in a
handsome palace between the leafy
Avenue Gabriel and the rue st.
Honore. becomes most unhappily
important at this stage Of French
national existence.
Must Turn to Right
M. Lebrun is the president of
\ France. an das such is obliged to
call upon somebody now and then
to become national premier, the
actual ruler of the land.
Since Mr.. Lebrun has sworn never
to call the Socialist Leon Blum to
be premier, it seems likely that he
would turn the other way, and call
some Right wing leader. That is,
perhaps, the tip-off.
The technique of this revolution
from Within" such as people are
considering these days, requires
man in the ministry of war who
controls the army rigidly. That
means a man like Marshal Petain or
Gen. Weygand.
It requires also a strong man who
controls the police at the ministry
of the interior. That looks like
Jean Chiappe.
Would Mandel Play Ball?
The telegraph and postal services
must also be rigidly held. That
looks like George Mandel, the pres
ent occupant of the post, and
most dictatoresque figure.
3 But the question rises: Would
Mandel play ball with the Right?
Although a stanch supporter OF
the late Clemenceau in war days,
1t is possible that Mandels SYM
pathies now have turned toward
the Left.
If the first stages of a new
French revolution might be
bloodless and comparatively order
". the next stages might be very
different. This is because, which,
ever side might have seized power.
its enemies are strong enough =
make serious trouble.
The Communist groups
1.-The Common Front "-haye a
terrific weapon in the general strike.
To oppose that, the Right wingers
have a notable support in the
leagues" private armies.
These, 1t is predicted. would be
instantly modified. numbering in
Paris alone more than 100000 men.