Evening star., 1937-09-19
BY EMIL LENGYEL.
s HEAD Of the French govern

! ~ ment, Cdmllle CnautempS Is
| ~ expected TO perform a minor
miracle at a crucial period Of
| postwar history. He may have to
make decisions affecting the welfare
| of the entire western world How
will he deal with the perennial Ger
man problem? What would he do if
Hitler were to draw Europe into new
conflict? Along the southern frontier
of France the Little World War" is
being fought. French destroyers have
been shelled in the Mediterranean,
and French merchantmen in the Bay
Of Biscay. For less serious causes
wars have been declared-but France
has chosen to close her eyes for fear
she might see too much, even though
German and italian activities are
threatening to disrupt her wartime
communications with her colonies in
Africa
Premier Chautemps has also to deal
with domestic problems of vital i'm
portance. While fascism in France is
more noisy than effective, rebel sue
cesses in Spain might stimulate it to
new efforts. He is heir to the govern
ment of Leon Blum, who experimental
with social reform for over a year.
Although Chautemps' support is from
the same Popular Front of Progress
sives, he has had to abandon social
experiments. He has given France
Ia pause" breathing spell, and has
made peace with the Conservative
right wing. Under his administration
the franc has been further devalued.
new taxes have been introduced and
government expenses have been
reduced. The public works policy of
France is being gradually adjusted to
the treasury's position in an effort to
balance the budget.
Young in Public Life.
A man Of So, Premier Chautemps
is one of the "jeunes," the young
ones of French public life. His blue
eyes have a humorous twinkle, and
an inward chuckle betrays the con-
tentment OF the man who has found
his vocation. "Chaud temps" means
hot time" in French, and his inti-
mates know this is no misnomer.
For his placid exterior hides a dyna-
mic nature which has helped him
climb the highest peaks. Although
not brilliant orator, he seems to
have hypnotic power of persuasion
at crucial times. Chautemps is a con-
clliator by nature, with a formula
always at hand. Like all good French
Radical Socialists, he is neither a
radical nor a socialist-merely a lib
eral.
In Paris they tell story that illus
trates his dry humor At a cab
met council his finance minister,
Georges Bonnet, gave a detailed ac-
count of the country's fiscal needs,
enumerating the new taxes and other
public burdens. His report made, he
asked for glass of water.
"A glass of water for M. lie min
istre des finances" Chautemps in
structed the off1cer in charge. After
moments pause he added: And
glass OF rum for the TAXPAYER"
An Englishmans comment was that
N-~ NNAAc ONSooiOAi lllC pltIfltI
was wry. rather than dry!
No Novice in Politics.
Chautemps career had had dizzy
ups and downs. He was hardly more
than boy when he made his poll
tical debut as the Mayor of his
torical town. Still in his early 3Os.
he had a respected position in the
Chamber Of Deputies, and when he
became member of the French gov
eminent he was not yet 40. But his
first government in 1880 was swept
out Of office by the chamber as soon
ss he had finished reading his plat
form. In 1884 mob blinded bv
passion demanded his head at the
time Of the Stavisky scandal, and
he again seemed to be casualty of
political warfare. Few more spec
tacular comebacks have been staged
In contemporary history.
When I chanced upon him In
theater lobby of Paris he was max
Ing bid to enter the Senate. Al
though the number of his foes was
legion he seemed to be confident of
victory. When he entered the the
ater, few young camelots du roi,
members Of monarchist organiza-
ton, shouted at him in the course of
an improvised demonstration.
In the first intermission he was
ready to submit to cross-examina-
ton, as he smilingly put it, provided
we did not touch upon current poll
tics. But before q question could be
shot at him he took the initiative by
beginning to analyze the play. In
stead of the conventional platitudes
OF statesman, anxious to say lit
tie in many words, he gave q pene-
trating picture of his own mind en-
crossed in the contemplation of
human drama. While he spoke about
the play, it was obvious that he con-
templated human existence In the
clash of passions he saw a recur-
renee to the uncivilized state OF man.
and he perceived the goal of the
twentieth century in the attainment
OF mental balance. The wisdom of
rich political career was concen-
trated in his paraphrase Of the poets
advice: If you would improve a man,
It's best to begin by persuading him
that he is already that which you
would have him be-"
Dreyfus Case Influential.
The Paris of Camille ChautempS'
early childhood was stirred by fanati-
cal partisanship. France was still
smarting under the effects of the
Franco-Prussian War. 1t had hardly
settled down to everyday life when an
event, seemingly unimportant shook
the world. A French Army captain,
Alfred Dreyfus, was sentenced to life
on Devils Island for allegedly having
sold French military secrets to Ger
many Out Of an obscure newspaper
item there grew "LAfaire," which
divided France into two camps.
While political passions We're afame.
France discovered the meaning of her
revolutionary past. The Dreyfus case
precipitated revolt against political
| lethargy among the masses. and the