Evening star., 1937-03-28
CLICHY RIOT BELIEVED
DIRECTED BY MOSCOW
May Be Warning to Blum That France
Can Become Another Spain if
He Does Not PLAY Game.

the violence OF the riot seem TO con-
firm this theory held by a number
OF French officials in Paris.
Furthermore, it is suspicious, to say
the least, that Maurice Thorez, the
leader Of the Communists, appears to
have had no foreknoWledge of these
events. The Communist party every
where in the world is better organized
and has stricter discipline than any
other political group. Of course the
supreme authority always resides in
MOSCOW 1t is from there that general
instructions are sent out to the leaders.
But when Moscow wants to make a
coup and considers it inadvisable to
toreWarn the local leaders. the agents
OF the Third Internationale act
directly.
How seriously Blum has taken this
warning Is question still unanswered
Because OF his advanced political
and social ideas the French premier
Is more aloof from the Third Inter-
rationale than most of his followers.
He believes in democracy implicitly
and believes that the sympathy and
support of the United States and
Great Britain are more expedient
than to plunge into some adventure
with the Third Internationale. Blum
Is undoubtedly friend of the Rus.
sian government. But he fears that
the lhlrd lnternationale might lead
france into an abyss which would end
her position as world power.
Under an idealLstic exterior the
french premier is realist. He is
prepared to fight if a war cannot no
avoided, but he will do his utmost IN
MAINTAIN peace in Europe as long as
ne can. Blum recognizes that the
COLOSSAL British rearmament is a pro-
gram on paper which will not become
TACT Tor quite number of years. n,
knows that the United States is stron1.
ly opposed to a war and would haze
little sympathy for whoever mioht
cause it. And it is on the support Of
CheSe Two countries that the French
premier Is relying to put France IN
her feet again.
Blum Restraints Passions.
Both Washington and London ar,
Keen to have Blum stay in power and
continue his social, economic and
hnancial reconstruction. There is a
1lrm belief in both capitals that If
Blum were to be overthroWn France
would be involved in a civil war within
few weeks. Political passions have
been smoldering, and at the head Of
the French government there is a man
with advanced socialistic ideas. who,
While determined to readjust wealth.
limit profits and control excessive earn
lngs of individuals and corporations.
Will not yield to mob rule. If this man
goes, the suppressed passions will come
to the surface once more and the
struggle between Would-be Fascists.
Communists, Royalists and what-not
will become so fierce that a situation
not unlike that in Spain might prevail
throughout France. It is for this
reason that the city and the British
government, fully aware of Frances
financial difficulties, have never re-
fused to extend helping hand to the
French treasury, and in Washington
Secretary Henry Morgenthau is watch
ing anxiously-and somewhat helpless
ly-the fever chart of the franc.
So anxious is he to assist Blum's
efforts that early in March, when it
was reported that the new Ambassador
to Washington. Georges Bonnet, had
come to discuss the possibility of
camoufaged loan. Morgenthau did not
deny the story, despite the pressing
questions of Washington newsmen.
There was nothing to the rumor, of
course, but the Secretary of the Treas
ury feared that a denial from him
would make the floating of the new
$500, 100000 bond issue in France more
difficult
A statement came later-after the
loan had been issued-ln the shape
of a refusal to permit the French
government to appoint a New York
bank as its fiscal agent in the United
States.
Undercover Help Given.
Under the johnson act no direct
assistance can be extended to the
French government, which is still in
default of its war debts. but there are
a few undercover ways to help the
Blum administration, and these ways
are being utilized as much as possible.
The effort of the administration to
force the billions of dollars which
have emigrated from France during
the days of financial crisis back to
their country of origin is one of these.
And if ever the economic situation in
France becomes so threatening as to
demand something more drastic, the
betting in Washington is that it will
be done.
A high official stated to this writer
a few days ago, I'VE hope that Blum
will remain in power for some time;
otherwise we don't know what will
happen in France" And the same
feeling prevails in London.
Copyright. 1877