The Daily News. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1917. THE CAILLAUX PLOTS.
It is beyond doubt that the treachery of M. Caillaux was of the most infamous nature, for it was the lust of wealth and the misuse of the influence arising from wealth that enabled this dangerous politician to jeopardise the safety of his country and place it at the mercy of the Huns. He was 6ne of those unscrupulous men who play for high stakes and protect themselves from loss by using foul means. It was only a year or so ago that he came into the limelight as the husband of the woman who assassinated the editor of the Figaro, because the latter had threatened to disclose her husband's intrigues. This incident served to show that troublo was 'rowing, but it was never expected the lvvelations, which have now placed Caillaux on his trial, would so completely cover him with infamy. Although he has sat in the French Cabinet, his reputation appears to have been anything -but enviable, but vast wealth often covers up a multitude of sins that would secure the just punishment of less favored people. That he was working with the intriguer 8010 not only to sacrifice his country, but to bring about the downfall of Britain, is an established fact. His whole life seems to have been devoted to scheming for personal advan* tage, and like most men of this stamp he was ever ready to become a traitor or paid agent so long as the game was worth the candle. It seems almost incomprehensible that a political vampire like Caillaux should have it in his power 1 to wreck his country, and yet he almost succeeded in so doing, for had it not been for M. Clemenceau, the "Grand «ld man" of France, it is quite likely a terrible disaster would have overtaken both France and Britain. It is worth while noting a few incidents in the career of this pro-Gelrman intriguer, who has for a long while been known as an unscrupulous politician and corrupt financier, and the participant in a monstrouls conspiracy to faster Germany's plans to crush Britain and Russia. His past record has earned for him a title to almost unparalleled infamy and disloyalty. When Finance Minister in the Doumerge Cabinet, at the tiime of the Agadir crisis, Caillaux negotiated a secret agreement with Germany, behind the back of the French Ambassador, making enormous concessions to the Germans and seriously jeopardising the position of France in Africa, and it is stated that in 1914, when the Germans were on their way to Paris, Caillata endeavored to win over deputies to consent to an immediate capitulation and to hand over to the invaders the. province of Burgundy as a peace offering. Why? According to Gustave Herve, it was because of Caillaux's fob vestments in Germany that he was eager for peace at any price that lie did not have to pay himself. It may also be inferred that Caillaux would have been well paid by the Germans fßr his treachery. Were it otherwise it is difficult to account for his latest conspiracy as revealed by the seized letters connecting him with the conspirator 8010. Fortunately for France and Britain M. Clemenceau, though now close upon eighty years of age, got on Caillaux's track and brought to light his infamous plotting with the enemy, thus laving
Franco from a degradation too horrible to contemplate. In ail countries there ure malefactors, but it is not often that men occupying the position of Caillaux are laid by the heels. France and the Allies owe a debt of great magnitude to M. Cleamcnceau for his timely and vigorous action in dealing with this great menace. German gold has vied with German arms in the prosecution of German aims. In his selfish desire to sacrifice his country, as woll as Britain in order to further his base ends, Caillaux over-reached himself, and like the majority of traitors failed to cover up his tracks. The capacity of such infamous creatures for evil shows upon what a slender thread the destiny of a nation hangs. Keenly as the French nation may feel the stain on its honor, yet their loyalty and valor are such as to prove their fidelity to the Allies' 4 cause and to counteract attempts of conspirators to cause disaster. We cannot but extend to France the utmost admiration for her conduct of the war, coupled with sincere regret that such a monster as Caillaux should be reckoned amongst her citizens. Whatever may be his fate, he certainly deserves the utmost penalty that the law can inflict.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19171220.2.21
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1917, Page 4
Word count
Tapeke kupu
772The Daily News. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1917. THE CAILLAUX PLOTS. Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1917, Page 4
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Taranaki Daily News. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International licence (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.