1939-08-22 — Page 14

66

6 You've got to

be fussy

over

horses

THE CHINA MAIL, AUG

FRENCH DEMOCRA

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of the needs of national on the other hand, thi that the Government

By

Pierre Bro

Ed

Foreign

of the Uberties Populaire, Po

the

"Christian

. One cannot, It is easy to understand why the the Government? granting of "full powers" to the Gov- course, be sure of anything. ernment headed by M. Edouard Da- r ladier should have aroused in Paris But that is not the real problem. In outbreak of hostilities and elsewhere certain apprehensions order to substitute an authoritarian national union which concerning the future of the Parlia- regime for a Parliamentary one, the power, either by an

One mentary regime in France. Never be- wish to do so is not sufficient. fore has a Premier obtained such wide must have the ability to accomplish powers for so long a period of time. it. Let us suppose that the present Government, or certain of its suppor- After its experiments with despo- ters, entertain such plans, the ques- tism and with absolute power, first tion arises as to whether they could. under the Monarchy and then under obtain the, prolongation of their pre- the reigns of the two Napoleons, the sent powers, and whether they could French nation has sought a guaran- make use of these powers to cause tee against the return of autarchy in the disappearance the strict and permanent control ex- which still flourish throughout ércised by Parliament over the Gov- country. ernment. Since 1871, the rule has' Naturally, the answer to this ques- to the angle constantly been that there can be no tion varies according law, no budget, unless it is first vot- from which the evolution of the in- is envisaged. ed by the two Houses. And now a ternational situation Government, already in possession of There are three possibilities: that war -fussy about who rides them. Personally I find it's the

wide

powers since October. Is imminent; or, on the contrary, that a party. Furthermor only way. For instance, I don't much care to lead in

1938, finds itself invested until Nov. a lasting "detente" is to be hoped for; than one, collaboratio 30-practically the end of the year- or, lastly, the present tension is like- liament and the Gove

pensable 齿 time of a lucky winner; but it gives me the rarest pleasure

with sovereign powers which enable ly to be indefinitely prolonged.

# In the case of war, the powers en- it not only to promulgate the budget

So that, however, to watch any thoroughbred ridden to a faultless victory.

for next year, but also to postpone the joyed by the Government would dif- 1940 elections, to change the elector- fer extensively from those granted to may appear, war wou In the same way I appreciate the al regime, or even, if it so pleases. to M. Daladier. In one sense they would to practices closer

would include ianism than those at abolish publish meetings and the free- be wider, since they

censorship of press and radio

does and ed. But this good judgment used in the makingdom of the press.

supply either grave losses, o I have such extreme powers

Never since the time of Napoleon general requisition rights to granted to any sovereign. Never, even during the World War, has Parlia-

Fussy about their training

very

been

of White Horse Whisky, I've yet to discover a richer flavour with a finer fragmentary control ceased to function as It is completely as it has to-day.

to understand therefore not difficult

rance, a silkier smoothness with a more heartening glow. Till I do, I shall in- sist on White Horse," -

WHITE HORSE

Whisky

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EAT AT

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AND DON'T YOU DARE FORGET IT

the apprehension that has manifested

itself that Parliamentary institutions are on the decline in France, and that the unprecedented powers granted to M. Daladier are really the first step toward an authoritarian regime, or to employ the accepted phrase, to- ward a species of totalitarianism,

denies

France

Naturally, the Government any wish to introduce into the slightest form of a totalitarian re- gime and regards all 'suppositions of this kind as prejudicial. Its thesis is that the country is actually faced with international difficulties such as it has never before known, that it is threatened by countries which derive considerable superiority in the realms. of action and propaganda through their dictatorial regimes, and that if France wishes to surmount this gravej obstacle it must meet exceptional cir- cumstances by requiring a no less ex- ceptional accommodation of its tradi- tions of liberty. Once this is done, we are assured, once the danger is over, the Parliamentary regime will once more function normally.

Are these assurances absolutely sin- cere? Are not a certain number of people in the entourage of the head of the French Government saying that after all, even if the internation- al sky should clear, it would be very pleasant to remain in power by means of a prolongation of the present ceptional state of affairs? And not M. Daladier himself sometimes been moved by his extremely person- al temperament to think that the salvation of France is synonymous with his own presence at the head of

DON'T WORRY- I WON'T- HE'S ON ME MIND ALL TH TIME-

COME ON-OLD TIMER-BE A MAN-TAKE YER MEDICINE - IT'S TWO O'CLOCK="

ex-

has

Monitor."

•

The King on August 9 Inspected the 133 ships of the swinging at anchor in Weymouth Bay. Photo shows ing on board the cruiser Effingham.

BAU- BALI-

AW-NOW LOOK- JUST. TO SHOW YOU HOW EASY IT IS – GRAND- DADDY WILL TAKE SOME FIRST-

DA BAL

INEXPENSIVE SATISFYING

7.6

Copr. 1939, King Features, Syndicate lock, World rights reserved.