WAR POLITICS IN FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 92, 11 January 1918, Page 7

WAR POLITICS IN FRANCE

WHY PAINLEVE FELL

A SIFTING OP ISSUES

Tho Ministry of M. Painleve fell becnuso of tlio confusion in the French war aims and peace- terins, writes a correspondent of the New York "Evening Post." It did not fall because of "Bolqism," or because of the scandals connected with the naino of the former Minister of tbo Interior, M. Malvy, or because of tho recent royalist demonstrations, us somo of tbo Press dispatches would seem to suggest. The Painleve Ministry fell because its. first Minister of Foreign Affairs (M. Kibot), and its second Minister of Foreign Affairs (M. Barthou) took an intransigeant attitude on Al-sace-Lorraine. The French peoplo aro roady to light to tho end for AlsaceLorraine, but they aro not ready to light a single moment for tbo spoliation of Germany or for the imperialism of any of their Allies, or for tho niero lust of continuing the war. Both Bibofc and Barthou wanted the direct annexation of Alsace-Lorraine to France; and, in addition, territorial "guarantees" through the so-called •'neutralisation" of German territory in the Saar Valley, and even the whole left bank of tho Rhine. This imperialist demand was in direct line, witli the treaty agreement drawn up by Briand-Domergue, and denounced by the Russian Revolutionary Government of Kerensky.

Tho Socialist Secession, Because of these imperialist war aims the United Socialists, under Albert Thomas, refused at the eleventh hour to. enter the Painleve Cabinet ■when it was formed a few weeks ago. Without tho Parliamentary support of tho United Socialists, Painleve knew that his Ministry was doomed. Ho desired to be relieved of forming tho Cabinet. President Poincaro vxuld not accede to his request. The lifted Socialists took up ait attitude of watchful waiting, informing Pamlevo .that they would oppose him only it the war aims or the war activities if tho Cabinet seemed to them opposed to tbo beat interests of the common i-eople of France. ' .

_ In order to show his sympathy with the moderate views of the common people of France, Premier Painlove, in his opening statement, declared that the war aim of Franco was tho "disannexation" of Alsace-Lorraine from . Germany. • Specifically and in political terms what "disannexatiou" meant was not made clear at tho time. It'did produce, however, a favourable Ireaciion in Germany, as was made manifest in a speech by tho Gorman Foreign Minister, von Kuhlmann, and by a 'semi-official offer of peace to Franco. It is in connection with this semi-official offer of peace, made by Germany to' France that tho present French Cabinet has fallen.

Debates within the past month, both in open and secret sittings of the French Chamber, , have brought out the fact that a representative of tho German Government (Count von Bulow is mentioned) made- a written offer of peace' to France through a Belgian diplomat whoso name is specifically mentioned, and who conveyed this offer to ex-Premier Briand. This oifer was made within the last few weeks. The proffered terms of peaco were:—

(1.) Tho evacuation of Northern France and compensation for damage done.

(2.) The evacuation of Belgium, restitution in an amount to' bo fixed according to the Belgian law of damages, the convening of a peace conference at Brussels under the presidency of King Albert. (3.) Negotiations concerning a satisfactory settlement of the Alsace-Lor-raine question. This was not.intended to bo an offer of a separate peace to Franco and Belgium inasmuch as a general peace conference can bo convened onco tho Belgian and French difficulties are out of tho way.

. A "Trap." M. Jkiand, as was his duty, communicated .the offer to the French Minister, of Foreign Affairs, M. Rihot, "who, after consulting Mr. Balfour and Baron Sonnino, and without consulting with tho Foreign Affairs Committeo of tho French, Senate, declared in open session that German peace offers wero being "whispered about," but that cho French 'Government was awaro of tho "trap" that had been laid for it. This surprising statement caused an uproar in tho Chamber, and led to a secret session, at which somo -of tho facts above mentioned wefe brought out. The United Socialists'and other 2>arties of the Left and the Centre demanded 11-ibot's resignation. They declared that no man had a right upon his own authority to declare as a "trap" what seemed'to be a bona-fide offer of peace. M. , Eibot refused at first to resign, and was forced to do so only when Premier I'ainlovo threatened to bring the crisis .to the attention of President Poincaro, who had thus far given evidence of iiis confidence in the Premier.

, Thwarted by the ■ attitude of Eib'ot, the German Foreign. Minister, Baron von Kuhlmann, delivered his "Never, never" speech concerning. Alsace-Lor-raine, to tho effect that "never, never" would.any part of Alsace-Lorraino bo yielded by Germany as long as there remained a German soldier to bear arms.

Ex-Premier Barthou was appointed in place of M. Ribot. From the beginning of the war he had not delivered a speech in the Chamber. Dospite his militarist and imperialist past, tho United Socialists under Thomas declared they were ready to regard him as a "new man." What must have been the surprise of the. French peoplo when in Ms' very first statement to the Chamber M. Barthou, in his turn, delivered a "Never, never" speech, declaring that never would France yield anything of Alsace-Lorraine; that it was tho right of Franco to have Al-sace-Lorraine returned to it, there being no difference whatsoever between the provinces occupied during the past three years and those occupied fortysix years ago; that these rights of France must be "guaranteed"; that it was not within the power of any Minister of Foreign- Affairs to specify what these. guarantees might be, but that the guarantees might well be of a territorial nature—German territory to be "neutralised" in order to protect France against future attack; that the nature of the guarantees, the extent of the territory, the form of neutralisation, were all dependent upon tho size of the French military victory.

This statement caused wild debate. M. Albert Thomas pointed out the inconsistency between thp views of Premier Painlcve and those of his Minister of Foroign Affairs ; M. Barthou. Not only was tlio_ Pamlovu policy of "disannexation" disavowed) but thero waa added tho old Brian-Domergiio policy of imperialism. Ho declared that such a situation had never before arisen in thi? political life of France, and he demanded to know clearly what the war -aims of France might be. Both Premier Painleve and M. Barthou promised to got together and reconcile their conflicting views. It was. duo to this promise that a vote of lack of confidence was not at once had. This did not prevent one deputy, amid the general merriment and applause of the Chamber, from quietly arising to say to M. Barthou, "Mr. Foreign Minister, M. Ribot is awaiting you at tho door." The- Painleve Ministry, lias now

fallen afl it had to fall. Tho morning dispatches informed us that among tho reasons for the end of tho Cabinet was tho fact that M. Barthou declined to submit to tho Foreign Affairs Committee of tho Senate ex-Premier Briaud's letter concerning the German pcaco offer. Wo may bo sure that this is tho real reason for tho recent happenings.