The reassembly of the French Parliament to-day is fraught with a large number of signifeant possibilities, not only to the country Itself. but to others with which it is Jat present in very close contact, M. [Laval has to meet the Deputies after some months of absolute power, in Jwhich government has been carried fon by decree. Many of the decrees Jwhich were issued, especially those designed to bring about a balanced Dudge:, chiefly by the reduction in the pay of civil servants and. various Pensions, have aroused very consider fable enmity to M, Laval's government, and it is to be expected that the Left Groups will coalesce for the sole pur-ose of forcing him out of office. They will demand the dissolution of the various -Fascist organizations in the existence of which they see a very definite menace to themselves, How strong the Fascist organizations ere is not definitely ascertainable, but there every reason to think that not only they represent a very large number fof active opponents of socialism, but thave sise the backing of others' who Jare vot so overtly hostile, The issue this respect is between socialists and non-socialists, the former seeking} force the government to do what they would certainly do themselves were they returned to power. How far M. Laval will meet' them in his desire to further the policies which hho claims have been the recent salva-{ion of France remains to be seen, though it is not unlikely that he will refuse to agree to the demands which will be made upon bim. Should he $0, it Is evident that his government will fal, for the Radical Socialist Party is the largest parliamentary troup and an element to be reckoned with in any future governmental combination. Together with the Soc!alist-Communist Popular Front they. can Hive the present Prime Minister a very difeult time, Should they succeed in overthrowing M. Laval they would obtain control of the elections which are to take place in May, and thas Been found in the past that the party in power has generally had a etter chance at the polls than the opposition. The effect of such a manquvre upon French foreign policy must of necessity ive cause for anxiety to those countries which have adopted a common altitude toward Italy, through the League of Nations.
unbelievable that Left govern: ment would to any very great extent depart from the polley which M. Laval has consistently followed at Genev The natural hatred of the Leftist groups of Fascism may possibly lead socialist-communist combination to take stronger measures against a Fascist country such as Italy than Laval has up to the present adepted, but before that could happen th chances of a coup d'etat by bodies as the Croix de Feu, Sol Francaise and Jaunesses' Pal have to be reckoned with. It'Is ap: arent that the organizations will for tolerate a government such es the leftist combination if successful would provide, anda France preoccupied with coup d'etat would make for weakness amongst the Powers opposed to Italy's present course of behaviour. From that point of view the political state of France is not very encouraging. A successful coup might have the effect of bringing into power men likely to have more than a tittle sympathy with the Fascist government of Ttaly and again contribute to a certain degree of weakness amongst the sonetionist "Powers, From points of view it would seem best that /M, Laval should retain office, but if indeed his administration does fall under the expected onslaught, the Possibility of a return of the deplor~ able conditions which prevailed before he assumed office is much more than a slight one.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.