FRENCH PREMIER

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1932, Page 8

FRENCH PREMIER

HAD LONG POLITICAL CAREER., "I. Joseph Paul Boncour wa s born in August, U 73, nt St. Aignaii, Loir-ct-<Jher. He practised as an advocate in Paris and engaged in journalism.' Entering politics in 1898 as first secretary •>t the Spanich-Americon Peace Conference in Paris, he - wan private secretary of Waldeek-Rousseau from 1899 to 1998. Then in 19C6 lie was made head of a section: in the Labour Ministry.- Elected to the Chamber for Bloin in I£A‘3, he was Labour Minister in the Mon is Cabinet and occupied himcelf with the measure for old age pensions—a task in harmony with 'his enthusiasm for social reform. In 1934 he lost his seat.

Joining the army, he fought at the front, rising to the command of a bnt : talion. After the war he was ele c ted to the Chamber for Paris in 1919 and for Tarn in 1924 as a Socialist, and became one of the of the Party, though ' his Socialism had a strongly nationalist tinge. His first wife was a daughter of Merrier, the chocolate manufacturer, and he is Very wealthy.

FOREIGN INTERESTS. . M. Paul Boncour occupied himself chiefly with foreign affairs and was a member of the Army and Foreign Affairs Committees of the Chamber. In 1924 he \re& appointed a delegate to the League of Nations; Since then he has played an important part at Geneva, especially in connection with the disarmament and security question. - He was one of the champions of the Geneva Protocol, which was rejected by Britain ui 1925. In all discussions on disarmament he urged that it should be precoded by guarantees of security. In 1927 hi s Party looked askance at h:s co-operation with the Poincare Cabinet and its delegate at Geneva, but he steadily maintained that the Socialists ought to take part in the coalition Government. On his initiative arrangements were made fo r the League to have the use of aeroplanes to ensure rap.d communication between it and the Governments in case of danger of war.

In November, 1927, he was elected president of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber, -which he regarded as a mandate for Ids 'Geneva policy. In December -he and others attempted to revive the Protocol, holding that British acceptance of it could be dispense w“ith for the present, hut that it should be kept open for signature by other Powers. He -had not, however, given any indication of urging France to sign the protocol, with its elaborate system of military and naval guarantees. In 1926 on a visit to Poland he made a speech which was resented in Germany, but he explained in Berlin that when he spoke of Poland’s work for security he 'wag referring to the Polish guards on the Russian and not on the German frontier. He is against the un-conditional'-evacuation of the Rhineland by France, though admitting that this is {essential 'to a rapprochement with Germany.- but demands a demi’u tamed zone -under the control of the ■League.