While there must of necessity be some uneasiness about the situation in France, a disquiet which is emphasized by.the recent revelation in the "Gringoire" of preparations! for a Communist revolt, it would' be very unwise at this juncture to regard it with anything approaching profound pessimism. The question of the accuracy or inaccuracy of the report really does not arise; inconceivable that Moscow Communists are. not. busily engaged fishing in the troubled waters. of France, or indeed in. any other country, for there are indications! that the activities of the past, despite the protests which have! been. made to Moscow, have not diminished to any appreciable extent, Indeed they may safely be regarded as having been enthusiastically increased in any! direction whence immediate profit might be derived. Western Europe has of late proved a happy hunting' ground, and that despite a set of circumstances which would suggest that the communist cause is receiv ing a serious setback in the recent! Spanish developments. The defeat of the Spanish government, which. now seems to be only a question of time, will not necessarily, mean that peace will be brought to the unhappy country, "There will re= main the seeds of an overwhelming bitterness which will have a lasting effect upon the fortunes of the: country for generations: to come, and years of insecurity may be confidently expected, The proximity of.such an uneasy neighbour mus have a direct effect upon France's internal peace. Her Communists will naturally burn to avenge the reverse which the cause has sustained in Spain, while. their adversaries will undoubtedly be cock-d-hoop over the moral effect the success. which, their Spanish fellows are achieving.
That isthe position now,'and is exactly the danger which M. Blum and his colleagues feared at the outset of the Spanish revolt, Amid the vociferous demands from parties of all complexions for ai sistance for one side or the other, despite the. partisan utterances and activities of the Government's] supporters and even of some of the Ministers, M. Blum with a firmness which deserves every congratulation. was able—internally_ and externally—to steer a middle course. This, up to the present has had the. effect of localizing the Spanish problem in such a manner as of itself to present only a modified threat to the peace of the world.. That success creates a Uability' to mitigate the satisfaction thus induced. Feeling still runs high in France, Communist disappointment feeds the fires of Aiscontent and inspires a desire for an attempt to overthrow the present Government and the institution of tone based on the Moscow model, while, communism's opponents find! in the Spanish development an augitry for ultimate success. in France itself, For the situation, as it-at present stands in France, does not merely involve the question of the retention of the present form, of government against communism, but whether one or other of the political parties shall ultimately sot Up a totalitarian state comparable with those to be found in other countries. M. Blum and the! moderates who agree with him, therefore, are not facing the possibility of a rebellion against its authority, but a fight to decide what] form the future government of the country shall assume.
That seems to be the only logical conclusion to be drawn from the occurrences in France during.this year, Industrial. discontent has] ploughed a good field for communist sowing, and the number of! adherents 40 the extreme Left. is sufficiently imposing to make their arming a malter for the most serious concern. How far the various political bodies have actually disarmed unden recently passed legislation i5.not clear. It may reasonably be assumed that: most of them are"able to lay their hands on. weapons without too great a delay, and it is only by the govcrment's maintenance of its authority that'this growing threat to the internal peace of France can be averted. Thus to admiration for the manner in which M, Blum has piloted the ship of state through very troublous waters must be added a full appreciation of the Nov, 10, very real dangers with which his administration is still faced. These. are undoubtedly increased by the fact that his own immediate sup-Porters are not entirely in agreement with all facts of his policy. His responsibilities are great and the means for shouldering them not always as certain as a-man in his Position would: wish. The via. media which he has succeeded in following is the only possible one for the good of France and the peace of the world, for it is clear that should revolt come, and the government fail to preserve its authority, the peace of the world will be' placed in "the gravest Jeopardy because of inevitable external ramifications. It is when the seriousness of the French government's position is considered' that the sound statesmanship of its pres~ ent leader is revealed in its true ight, and: much: sympathy, and it is hoped understanding, will follow, him along the: dificult path which is still ahead,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.