Evening star., 1939-01-04

who would have had to Suder the
brunt Of a war; men like bus drivers,
taxi drivers, walters and simple
people who take their little "pernot"
"a slightly alcoholic drink) in the
thousands of Partisan cafes. The
French are communicative and they
all say: "Ah quot, on les aurait eu"
(what. we would have had them)
Responsible American officials who
lived in Paris through the fateful
days Of September are unanimously
confirming that while there was a
feeling of relief that war had been
avoided, this feeling changed into
one Of deep disappointment within
a few days. The common sense of
the man in the street told him that
the danger had only been postponed.
Premier Daladier himself realized
this. One of his aides who accom-
panied him on the trip back from
Munich told an American high Of
fetal that when the plane ap-
preached lie Bourget Airfield and
the Premier noticed the thousands
Of men who had come to greet him
he turned to his aide and said:
They have come to lynch me-"
Relieved by Cheers.
When he was received with en-
thusiastic cheers he was relieved.
The French took little stock In the
subsequent visit of peace and
friendship" of Germany's Foreign
Secretary Won Ribbentrop. Large
police forces were displayed by the
authorities to avoid hostile man
ifestations, especially as the Ribben-
trop visit coincided with Mussolini's
claims for Tunisia, Corsica, Djibuti
and what not.
But the French are a polite race
and contented themselves with treat
ing Hitler's envoy with a marked
coolness. There were few small
incidents which showed the German
foreign secretary the temper of a
section OF Frances upper class.
Never in the history of the foreign
Office did the chief of protocol re-
ceive SO many refusals to attend the
state dinner given by M. Georges
Bonnet. One of the leading Partisan
Soclalites wrote that she was sorry
not to be able to accept but she had
previously accepted an engagement
at the Czech Legation. Premier
Daladier, indignant because the fof-
elgn office had not invited two Jew
ish members of the cabinet. Jean
Zay, the minister of public instruc-
ton, and George Mandel, the min
lister of colonies, called up at 6p.m.
and announced he would not be able
to attend.
Unpleasant Incident.
Agents of the French surete gen.
erale tsecret police) were stationed
along the routes where Ribbentrop
mad to pass and were compelled
once or twice to cheer themselves
hoarse IN order to drown an oc-
caslonal Down with the Germans
OF the passer-by who happened tn
recognize the German foreign Sec
retary.
The Munich pact was not a Sic
cess. This is the unanimous opin-
ION OF the French. That there was
no other way out is a different mat
Ter and lends itself to long discus
slons. But to the average French
man the Munich peace is dead. 1t is
an unpleasant incident in the diplo-
matte history of his country and
nothing else. 1t is because of the
frame OF mind of the AVERAGE
FTenchman that the government has
adopted today strong attitude to-
ward the claim of Mussolini in
Africa. And everybody from the
Prime Minister to the bus driver
is determined to face the music even
II Monsieur Chamberlain wishes to
orlng about another appeasement in
Europe by yielding some French
territory to placate Mussolini.