The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-31
Unsure Of British Support, Quai D'orsay
 Moves Warily On Diplomatic Chessboard
By MILTON BRONNER

(NEA SerVlce StaW COrreSpOnuent)
 Paris, March 31.-Reading news paper neaC.ines that proclaim the Nazi conquest of Austria, the Ameri- can is mildly thrilled at watching history in making.
 In England, the average Briton glances but a moment at accounts of this far-reaching event, then turns the page to see whether the piker bet he placed on a horse the day before has brought him an extra shilling or two
 But in France, from the highest to the lowest, there recently has been no other topic than this lat est Nazi exploit and fear of what the future may bring.
 Fear" perhaps, IS not the right word. For the French are brave, fighting people when the hateful necessity arises. But they hate war and they see it approaching closer to call them away from their shops and their factories and their farms.
 Leon Blum, Frances first Jew ish premier, finds himself again at the helm of the government in the most crucial period in recent Euro pean history-with the rights shout ing he is all wrong and the lefts shouting he Is all right.
 New Cabinet a Target
 His new cabinet has been the center of attack by the powerful right press, which is the major ity press of the French nation. For Blum had announced, after Hitlers bounce upon Austria, that he wanted to form government of national union. Many conservative Frenchmen thought he meant to form cabinet similar to the famous coalition cabinet which conducted English affairs during the World War. Excluding the Communists, they thought he would take in the leaders of all the other political parties. In any event, the cabinet he did build is very much like the one he had in 1886 - mainly Socialists and Radical Socialists
 Blum himself says he made many tentatives, but some of the parties were too exigent. How ever, he insists that the cabinet represents the feeling of the ma jority of the people of France as expressed in the last national election. In other words, it is a government of the alliance called the Popular Front. The Con- munists have no seat in 1t, but have promised to support 1t with their considerable block of votes.
 A Difficult Task
 Blum has shown himself 6 brave man by tackling the thank. less, perilous job of governing France at the present time. Not since the days that preceded tht World War, have things been ir so ticklish state. Forty million Frenchmen think war is not fal off. France has to face up to tht fact that there is an alliance be. tween Germany and Italy, two o the most powerfully armed na. tions in the world. She has tt face the fact that England's pol. icy is still hay. The French gov. ernment will have to walk very warily.
 Inside the country, there is alst a dangerous situation. The finance. are i'll bad shape. Labor, despite tht liberal laws Blum passed last timt he was Premier, is restless. It fear. that circumstances may dictate some sort of curtailing of the char. ter of freedom, shorter hours anc more pay they have won. Blum! Socialist party is, of course, largely a working class party. The Com. munists appeal to the more ex' treme French working men.
 If the support of his friends 1! questionable, the opposition O his enemies Is certain. The con. servative clements in politics banking and business hate hin for his labor laws and even more so because he broke the hold o. the economic royalists" upon thu Bank of Europe.
 They are helpless in the Cham. Der of Deputies. but the French