Evening star., 1944-11-22
CuiIIuux
Continued From First Page J

CuIlluux
Continued From First Page
the Third Republic, entered politics
in 1896 and was elected to Parlia-
ment. He was finance minister in
1899 and again in 1906. premier in
1911, and came back as finance min
lister in the Painleve cabinet in 1925
His cabinet career ended with an
other brief tenure of this offise in
1926.
M. Caillaux's term as premier ex-
tended from June, 1911, to January,
1872. Within that period, the Ger
man Kaiser, distrusting Frances
progress in Morocco, sent the gun
boat Panther to Agadir For a time
There was a threat of war, but M.
CaillauX, who had been pushing a
lreaty giving Germany a slice of
fhe French Congo as "compensa-
ton" avoided it.
He was opposed from the start to
Frances participation in the World
Var and was accused of treason for
fleged separate peace" dealings
fith the Germans. He stayed in
jlil awaiting trial for two years.
Finally tried in 1920, he was SEN
tnced to three years imprisonment
Rld loss Of civil rights for dealing
with the enemy" The French Sem
he granted him amnesty in 1925.
eIabling him to re-enter politics.
Wife Shoots Editor.
I The sensational 1914 shooting of
Hston Calmette, editor of LIE Figa-
aI by the second Nine. Caillaux
zane after bitter editorial attacks
br M. Caillaux by the paper.
4 dme. Caillaux, formerly the wife
pf Leo Claretie, literary editor of
Il Figaro, had married the colorful
politician in 1911, while he was
prmier-after his first wife had di-
toced him because of his relations
th Nine. Claretie.
M. Caillaux's enemies were
slreading stories that his interest
r holding the finance ministry was
s9Dre than simply political. He was a
ofih man and supposedly getting
Ilher all the time. He held posi-
tiuS with various banks to which
-ftapparently gave little service, but
Mich paid him well. 1t became a
osttdy chorus that he was using his
Feqrring tenures of Office for his
aoN enrichment.
ol , Figaro daily launched new at
eA taG with violence seldom
a ilhaled in French political history,
q hd there were rumors that the pa
nIr intended to publish letters said
e have been written by M. Caillaux
s.. his second wife while each was
arried to another. 4
Caillaux Infuriated.
AT this, M. Caillaux became infu-
Rted and told President Poincare
'Iat If M. Calmette published the
Eters Il will have no other recourse
Fan to kill him"
THAT very afternoon came the
-artling news, however, that Nine
sl9llaux, determined to defend her
4 lsband and her good name, had
7ine to the Office of LIE Figaro and
7ped five shots into M. Calmette's
tdy. She then calmly surrendered
the police. M. Calmette died that
Tight.
lldBy the time of Nine. Caillaux's
ltquittal, the World War had be-
eskn and M. Caillaux showed little
afthusiaSm for it. He was in favor
pa negotiated peace and soon be-
fme the standard bearer around
fom rallied the discontented and
paciflsts of France. There
fre reports that he took part in
differences looking toward a sepa-
e peace with Germany.
However, no one dared take ac-
IN against him until Georges
kmenceau became Premier in the
t of 1917. The father of VIC
ky" wasted little time and in Jan
by. 1918, M. Caillaux was jailed,
first time in the history of the
, ird Republic that a former Pre-
yer had been cast into Jail cell,
, Rrged with treason.
FL Senate Hears Case.
when the case finally came be-
, fe the Senate sitting as high
fart, M. Caillaux fought the
/: k,rges stubbornly and accused the
S Arernment of trying him for his
2 as and not for his acts.
5 after his Imprisonment and his
n nesty, M. Caillaux came back
the French capital almost in
e ,mph in 1924. His friends gave
d big dinner and launched him
S G into political life. He soon
e R elected to the Senate and won
e x place in the cabinet.
While finance minister in the
nleve government, M. Caillaux
! tted the United States and Great
E itain to negotiate on the war
t pts. He headed the French COM
' Rsion which came to Washington
: September, 1925, and presented
e French arguments for a scaled
S Rn debt.
Mentally, M Caillaux was one of
most active men in French public
and he often was called the
fernal youth" up to the time of
retirement. Slender, quick
lying, bald as billiard ball, with
Email mustache, he was a fas-
Il fous dresser. He devoted the
s'l pr part of his life to a career as
s texpert on financial matters.
lxtravagant spending of money
> ahome results in an extravagant
:. shding of blood in battle. Buy
=. IA War Bonds today to keep our
e dhalties to a. minimum. Let's all
{ II fho otto ck