May 15, The failure of M, Briand to secure election as President of the French Republic is being variously interpreted in the press in Europe, to judge from the early messages received. Perhaps it would not be unfair: to sum up the position by saying that the vote in favour of M. Doumer is in essence a vote for safety. There is little doubt that the disclosure of the Austro-Germar, Pact has seriously perturbed public opinion in Trance. It necessitated the appearance of M. Briand before the Chamber of Deputies last week in the role of a defender, of his Locarno policy. That his eloquence and unrivalled mastery of European politics enabled him to secure a dramatic success will be recognized. It will have been observed, however, that in Justifying his policy " he was compelled to refer to the Austro-German Pact in terms of criti cism, although he laid emphasis on the danger of surrendering'
a panic over what he described: as a serious psychological mistake. It was seen at the beginning of last month, that the immediate effect of the Austro-German announcement had been to. diminish M. Briand's _prospects of succeeding M. Dou-morgue as President of the Republic. More seriously still, it} was suggested that it had also shaken his position as the exponent of France's foreign policy. Moreover, his. own Scheme for a European union was held to be greatly pre-Judiced. It will be remembered that Dr. Curtius held that the Pact, so far from being inconsistent with that scheme was, in a sense, a first instalment of its execution. This does not neces: sarily mean that, when the Council of the League of Nations has examined the Austro-Ger man Pact, and, _perhap: covered that it is not politically objectionable, France will remain obdurate in opposing it. It must, however, be recognized that the announcement of the Pact did undoubtedly foster a recrudescence of an acute nationalism in France and brought into prominence a move-_ ment which might be compared with Hitlerism in Germany. As Pai was pointed out at the time in these columns, a most significant, factor in the situation in France after the announcement of the Pact was to be discovered in the speeches made Doumergue himself. It will be recalled that on the occasion of his departure for' Tunis, where the celebrations of France's fifty years' administration of that Colonial charge have been observed, the President of the French Republic made some very weighty and pointed observ: tions regarding France's uneasiness, not so much over the Pact itself as over the policy which might reasonably be discerned as directing that Pact. It is idle to ignore this strong feeling in France. Critics of French policy are apt sometimes to declare that there is a tenacity and relentless regard for old memories which stand in the way. of better international understanding. However that may be, the manner in which the Austro-German Pact was sprung upon the Foreign Offices of Europe suggests, on the one hand a neglect of element prudence and, on the other give ample justification for the maintenance of the attitude to which the critics of France take exception.
It not be assumed from this that M. Briand's foreign policy is certainly to be rejected. It will be seen thai, already, the President-elect is ' reported to have intimated his desire that} the veteran Foreign Minister process there emerges a foreign should continue in office. It|cannot be regarded as enti may rather be. that the con- comforting "te the 'Immediate sensus of opinion in France is neighbours. Finally, she sees, that, so long'as that policy is directly to the east' of her a the subject of doubt or, to use cloud which no bigger than a a better expression, has yet to man's hand, may, if neglected prove itself, its author should grow into the thunder-claude of be permitted to continue to unhappy memory.—However" guide it from the Quai D'Orsay, well-found may be the conten-If M, Briand had been elected tion that that Austro-German. President, it might have—been"
Pact does not imply a political thought that, thereby, his policy purpose, there can be little doubt were unanimously approved be-that France must view with fore a tual verdict upon it could anxiety any event which may elevating him to an office where!
appropriately passed. weaken -Austria's declaration of 1922, In these circumstances, his power of direction would be the election of M. Doumer may severely circumscribed, France be taken, not as a definite affront would perhaps lose more than to M, Briand's policy, but a3 the she "gained. To M. Briand sign of an intention to give that sympathy will be extended, a3 it would be to any man of his policy the best possible chance by Jeaving its author in charge eminence who had received a of it and by giving him as Chief definite check to his ambitions.
A miao whose veeord suggests He might well have thought that that eanity and broad vision will the time had come when his continue to be the guiding long service as Foreign Minieter, factors "im the administration to say nothing of, his eleven Guring Mis term of office. terms of office ax Prime Minis-for, might be rewarded by a position of greater ease, less Yesponsibility, and indubitable
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.