ANOTHER FRENCH CRISIS.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 86, 28 April 1937, Page 4

ANOTHER FRENCH CRISIS.

France has been the scene of so maaxy crises during postwar years, with so many consequent changes of government, that outsiders ai*e apt to regard each succeeding disturbance as somethinng coming in the ordinary course of events among a inerctlfial population. There is some reason, however, for fearing that the crisis which to-day 's news tells us hais to be faced by the French Prime Minister, M. Leon Blum, is something out of the ordinary run and likely to have rea-ctions elsewhere than in France. It is not by any means altogether political in origin, but is due rather to a combination of financial, industriaj. and social elements that are very difficuli to reconcile. For years now France's national finance has been in an exceptionally crazy condition and now it has probably reaehed something of a climax. It is rather surprising to be told that this is in no small measure due to the tenacity with which her many suCGessive Oovernments have clung to the gold standard after it had been virtually abandoned, or at any rate suspended or greatly modified, by Great Britain and later on by the United States- When in 1931 the British Government decided that, under the conditions that had then arisen, it was SUicidal to attempt the maitttenance of that standard, France was the holder of such a store of gold that she thought herself gafe, indeed at some advantage, in standing by it. To this policy and persistently adhered with the result that, in competition with the other exporting countries that had depreciated their currencies, her foreign trade suffered severely and the industries from which large sections of the population derived their livelihood correspondingly shrank. This, in turn, had the effect of accentuating industrial discGntent during the years of world-wide trade depression, and latterly this has found expression in serious labour disturbances. Some hope was felt that these troubles would subside When about a year ago a general election resulted in the return 6f a very substantial majority of Socialist candidates, With M. Blum at their head. This decisive victory at Ihe polls had for a time an appeasing effect. The new Prime Minister set himSelf to making the readjuStments neceSsary for carrying out betterment in the conditions of the mass of the wage-earners, and to this end new industrial laws were placed upon ;the French statute-book. Himself a Socialist, but still one of moderate views, M. Blum was fully conscious that no rapidly working miracle could be^ performed by mere legislation. For anything like that to be achieved the country's finance, espeeially in itsr international relations, had to be placed upon some sounder footing* In this direction something was accomplished when a fresh currency exchange understanding was reaehed with Great Britain and the United States that did something at any rate towards restoring Fance's foreign trade and revitalising her industries. Matters ha/ve not, however, been moving fast enough to satisfy the expectations of ahe workers, who have consequently resorted to "direct action" of a definitely violent character against the employers, most of them in no position to comply with their demands. As is generally the case in movements of the kind, those suffering most acutely have no eyes for the difficulties that beset even those who are sincerely desirous and best qualified to assist in permanently bettering conditions for them. In their impatience, perhaps quite natural under conditions such as haave probably obtained in France, their inclination is to set about destroying the sources from which effeetxve help might otherwise be best expected to come. It is this tendency that even a leader of their own choosing, such as is M. Blum, finds difficulty in restraining.