FRANCE: If Necessary, Fight!

Premier Camille Chautemps, an experienced juggler of French political groups, could not manage last week to keep the Communist, Socialist and moderate Left supporters of his Cabinet from holding their noses. But while they were doing so. he got them to swallow the generalprinciple of British-German-French-Italian negotiation for a Four-Power Pact, envisioned by the British Prime Minister . The swallowing occurred at a session of the Chamber of Deputies which upheld Premier Chautemps and Foreign Minister Yvon Delbos 439-to-2.

This did not mean that Chautemps can count on such overwhelming support in future, did not mean that the Chamber will finally ratify a Pact when negotiated. It did mean that France—feeling herself challenged by Hitler & Mussolini—had reacted with a great surge of national unity to the idea that her diplomats (“the cleverest in the world”) should match their wits with Britain, Italy, Germany.

Paris often presents the weak aspect of a gang of disunited politicians tearing each other’s hair and kicking the slats out of the latest Cabinet. But last week’s vote of 439-to-2 showed what Frenchmen do when they must. The might and unity of the Republic, not the prestige of Chautemps & Delbos, both ephemeral Politicians, were behind their announcement to the Chamber last week that France will:

1) Fight, if necessary, to preserve the “independence” of Austria (which Delbos called “indispensable”).

2) Fight, if necessary to give Czechoslovakia the support against an aggressor (support pledged by her treaty of alliance with France) but only if asked for such aid by Czechoslovakia.*

3) Negotiate with a view to simultaneous settlement of the problems raised by Italy’s conquest of Ethiopia and the presence of foreigners fighting in Spain.

4) Maintain close and cordial relations with Britain, the League of Nations and the Soviet Union.

There were elements of ambiguity in this forceful program, but it was the most clean-cut which France has achieved since the resurgence of German strength and weakening of Italian support of Austria.

“We all want a durable settlement with Germany and the maintenance of Peace!” interjected leading Rightist Deputy Paul Reynaud. “Despite the deplorable exhibition of herself that she sometimes makes, France is still strong enough to … help keep the balance of power in Europe!” Surprisingly, his was the only speech applauded last week by every Chamber group, from extreme Right to extreme Left.

*By implication Austria need not even ask such aid.