Evening star., 1938-11-20
France, !! Lacking Firm
Foreign Policy, Is
following Britain
Writer Says DoIodier
And Bonnet Will Submit
To Colonial Shoke-up
By WILLIAM BIRD.

ny OAASDs
PARIS, Nov. 19.-France, since the
Munich debacle, is faced with the
need for framing new foreign pol
icy. For the last 20 years-not to
70 back further-the French policy
has been a very simple one, namely,
to follow England, while at the same
time trying obstinately to guide Eng
land. There have been few devia-
tions from this line, notably when
Premier Pierre Laval made a secret
treaty with Mussolini over Ethiopia
and, earlier, when the Ruhr was oc-
cupied, but, on the whole, France
has recognized that major policy had
to be determined in London.
In the recent crisis, London man.
aged things entirely. and at the most
crucial moments it could not be said
that France was really consulted"
At best, the French government was
Uniformed" of what London had de-
cided to DO When, for instance,
chamberlain first decided to seek an
interview with Hitler at Berchtes-
gaden, he naturally notified Premier
Daladier. to whom it was as much
of a surprise as to anybody else.
Daladier and the rest of the French
cabinet were aStoniShed and even
annoyed that so important step
should be taken without consulting
them in advance. They feared par
ticularly the effect on French opin-
ion. So it was allowed to be pub
1icl,o nf
Chamberlain-H Hitler interview orig
mated with M. Daladier himself.
Some days later, it was learned that
this was not true.
Nobody now claims that the
French government had any other
part in any of the negotiations than
to ratify what Chamberlain and
Hitler decided to do. And, what is
more serious from the French view
point, practically everybody now
realizes that future decisions. so far
as England is concerned, are going
to be taken separately. Premier
Chamberlain and Lord Halifax, to
be sure, are coming to Paris next
week, but the French have few illu-
eions as to the kind of "consulta-
tions' that are going to take place.
The Chamberlain government has
its plan, which it will ask France to
indorse. The choice for France is
either to comply-to resign herself
to being henceforth mere rubber
stamp for Downing Street-or to
invent new line of policy of
her own.
Plan Has Three Points.
From present indications the
Chamberlain plan. which Daladier
will be asked to o. K, is in three
main points: First, denunciation of
the French pact with Soviet Russia;
second, cession to Grmany of Togo
land and CAMERON: third. recogni-
ton of Gen. Franco as belligerent.
giving him the right to stop all
shipping bound to Spanish govern
ment ports and thus bringing about
the destruction of governmental re-
sistance by starvation.
All three Of these points mean
sacrifice for France. none of them
means any considerable sacrifice for
England. England. indeed. expects
to reap benefits in the shape of bet
ter relations with Germany and
Italy. France. If she accedes, will
get little thanks from either.
Foreign Minister Georges Bonnet,
the former French Ambassador to
Washington, is credited with having
a plan of his own, but such report
is subject to heavy discount. The
first objection to crediting such a
report is that M. Bonnet is noto-
riously opposed to the Russian alli-
ance, and that he is known to be a
sympathizer with the cause of Gen.
Franco. AS for the colonies, it is
significant perhaps that one of NJ
Bonnets strongest opponents in the
Daladier cabinet is the minister of
colonies, M. Georges Mandel. I do
not suppose that NJ. Bonnet, as a
good Frenchman, would give away
French territory with light heart,
but it is permissible to wonder if
good share of M. Mandel's distrust
OF M. Bonnet does not proceed from
q conviction that the foreign min
lister Is unlikely to take firm stand
against the pleas of Messrs. Cham
berlain and Halifax.
Both Likely to Grant Demands.
1t looks very much now as If, |
when Chamberlain and Halifax get
here next Wednesday, they will find |
themselves face to face with two
men, Daladier and Bonnet, who are
ready to grant them all they may
ask. M. Daladier feels obliged to
cling to Chamberlain, in order to
share in the honor of having saved |
the peace" in September; M. Bon
net, as has been shown, is predis- |
posed to grant most of the conces-
sions that will be demanded.
But unless all signs fail, colonial |
concessions on the part of France |
will not 60 down so easily with the
country, nor with Parliament, nor
even with the cabinet. On all sides
and from all parties, the cry has
gone up that not a foot of the
French colonies must be ceded to
Germany. There may, of course, be
a reversal of opinion-there may be
a "fait accompli" which will be
swallowed as others have been swal-
lowed-but, if the question is left to
q free decision of the cabinet and
Parliament, it is almost a foregone
conclusion that the deal will not be
approved.
If the colonial concessions are
proposed by England and rejected