Evening star., 1935-12-01
SEEN
WHEN PARLIAMENT MEETS
Inability to Meet Common Fronts De-
mand for Disarming of Croix
de Feu. Held Menace.

convinced fTanCe kIsaS dC Tic hio1
opportunity Germany will plunge Eu-
rope into another war. To checkmate
Hitler he is befriending Mussolini,
whose Roman legions still safeguard
the independence of Austria. Laval
also Is seeking to keep Britain's
friendship by promising to cooperate
in defense of the League Covenant,
and incidentally In defense OF
Britain's colonial interests in Egypt,
the Soudan and the Mediterranean
and Red Sea littoral AS the reac-
tionary Croix de Feu groups are pro-
Fascist and the Common Front Is
pro-British and pro-League, Laval Is
having a difficult time of it. One
miScalculation politically and he Is
lost.
The internal economic situation In
France also is dangerous for Laval.
He was given power to rule by de-
cree for four months last June. That
period ended November l. When
Parliament meets shortly it will have
400 DEGREES to ratify or reject.
In seeking to please both his sup
porters and opponents Laval has sue
ceeded in satisfying neither.
Has Antagonized Peasants.
In an effort to defiate prices. to
avoid imitation, the Laval government
has antagonized the peasants, petite
bourgeoisie and big industrialists as
we'll. Prices have not gone down, but
wages and purchasing power have. The
budget has not seen balanced and
for the first eight months of 1885
government revenues were nearly s.
900, ,000,O francs below estimates and
500 .000, 900 francs below receipts over
the corresponding period of 1884. In
ternational trade, instead Of improv-
ing. has decreased. Exports fell of
1000. 100000 francs and imports
shrank by 100000, 900 francs during
the first nine months of 1885 as COM
pared with the same period of the
previous year. The budget for 1886,
which reduces government expendi-
lures presumably 20 per cent, balances
on paper-but only on paper.
During the Summer unemployment
has decreased somewhat in France,
but there still are nearly a half mil
lion workers on relief rolls and the
steady slackening of business holds
forth little promise for the future. The
tourist trade, which brought 13,000,-
600, 900 francs into France In 1928,
brought less than 1000, 100000 in 1884
M hn will ha
less. In retaliation against countries
which prohibit their nationals to So
iourn in France-chief1y Germany and
Italy-the Laval DEGREES propose a
5,000-franc passport visa fee for
Frenchmen who wish to visit in those
countries. The Nazis permit tourists
to take but 10 marks-60 franc-with
them when they go to France. Italy
has practically forbidden export Of
any valuta because of the international
sanctions ordered against her by 48
nations, members of the League.
Although there is little danger of a
European war at this time, chiefly
because Germany is not ready to fight,
Italy cannot cope with Britain and
France combined, and the latter two
do not wish war except as a last
resort. the chances of civil warfare in
France, Greece, Spain and even Italy
and Germany before the Winter is over
are more than even. Once the threat
OF outside menaces are removed the
Left political elements will become
active. They may even cause trouble
in England.
More than at any other time since
1918 European governments are sitting
on the lid these days-hoping. praying
that it will not blow off, and using
any political expediency that appears
to maintain their precarious positions.