1940-03-23 — Page 6

THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 23, 1940

M. Reynaud Runs Into Sharp Opposition

RIGHT OBJECTS TO SOCIALIST INCLUSION

Paris, To-day..

THE NEW FRENCH GOVERNMENT under M. Paul Reynaud, Finance Minister in the Daladier Cabinet, has already met considerable opposi- tion in the Chamber of Deputies.

Yesterday, when the new Cabinet met Parliament for the first time, a debate ensued and a vote of confidence in the Government was passed by 268 votes to 156. Abstentions numbered 110. M. Reynaud still occupied the Government bench after the vote.

Despite the severe setback receiv- ed as a result of the vote it

was believed in the lobbies that the Govi ernment would remain in, dffice. This was confirmed later in a

declaration by the Government that they would

remain.

rum-

After the first flush of enthusiasm on Thursday at the speedy forma. tion of the new government on a wider parliamentary basis, blings of discontent were heard in political circles yesterday. Many Radicals were dissatisfied with the changes, while the Right Wing was furious at the inclusion of the Socialists, who alone were really pleased.

Government, saying "France has been awaiting a war cabinet but is offered a dose of medicine instead." He said he feared that "Daladier has been the object of revenge on the part of the Socialist party, whose'er-

rors he had redressed." -

NO COMFORT

FOR DER FUEHRER

New York, To-day.

The New York Times" states: "There will be no comfort for Hitler in the sight of M. Reynaud In power in France, and there can be none If M. Daladier re- turns to office at the head of a stronger war cabinet-Reuter.

SHOCK FOR THE EXPERTS

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") Paris, To-day. Commenting on the new Cabinet many newspapers. express the hope that M. Rey- naud will become a new Cle- menceau.

Typical of the comment is "Le Matin" which says: "M. Reynaud's political past fully justifles his reputa-

the crisis shows his rapidity of deci- oftion and the way in which he solved

sion."

valour of our people, the labour our workers and peasants, the strength of our armies, the ardour of our sol- diers and the courage of their com-

It was noted that at this stage of manders. the debate M. Daladier himself was absent from the Chamber.

"We only have in fact to think of the eternal genius of France."

POLICY ANNOUNCED

SCENE IN CHAMBER The policy of the new Government

When M. Reynaud sat down after was expounded in a ministerial de- reading the declaration in the Cham- claration read

in the Chamber and ber he was applauded although with- Senate, as follows: "To arouse, mua- out marked warmth by the Centre and ter and direct all the strength of France Left. The Right vigorously appland- to fight and win and crush treasoned the reference to Soviet treachery wheresoever it comes."

but otherwise remained unmoved.

According to "Le Temps," M. Grandmaison, Under-Secretary for

The declaration continued: "A pow- the Navy, told his parliamentary erful, organised and determined enemy group (the Republican Federation) in is transforming all human activities the morning that he had tendered his into means of warfare. resignation. He attended the Cabinet meeting, however,

M. Grandmalson is affiliated to M. Louis Marin, in the extrema Right Wing group, which has throughout refused to support the Reynaud Ca- binet.

MARIN ADAMANT

M. Marin, who leads the chief Con- servative group and controls about 60 votes, announced that his party would vote unanimously against the Govern- ment.

"Helped by the Soviet the treach- ery of the enemy is carrying the struggle into every sphere and is co-

ordinating ite blows with a genius

for destruction, :~

EVERYTHING AT STAKE "Everything is at stake in this total warfare. To win means saving all: to succomb means losing`all.

"With your confidence and support we shall accomplish the task. If we need a further stimulant we need only measure the immense resources M. Calimand (Radical-Socialist de-France and the Empire: to consider puty) bitterly, criticised the Reynaud our admirable Allies: to remember the

Easter

At the

REPULSE BAY HOTEL

TIFFIN CONCERTS

(1-230 p.m.).

SUNDAY 24th MARCH

&

MONDAY 25th MARCH

WITH

GEO, PIO-ULSKI'S QUINTETTE

Table d'Hote & a la Carte

Reservations 'phone 27775

THE HONGKONG & SHANGHAI HOTELS, LTD.

of

M. Reynaud asked for an immediate discussion of two Radical-Socialist in- terpellations and general policy.

REPLY TO DEBATE

In reply to the debate in the Cham- ber, M. Reynaud said: "The security of the nation formerly depended on its, army. To-day it depends on the

entire nation.

"Mistakes were made in the last war which we shall not repeat.

"M. Daladier proved his ability to be economical, in human lives. (Applause). What we owe to the nation' Is to develop the most modern weapons of war. "Regarding foreign policy I can in the secret session by M. Daladier. confine myself to the declaration made

CRIME OF PREJUDICE.. ́"“It would be a crime in wartime to allow prejudices against individuals to come into play. Anything we may have thought or said in the past no longer counts. (This was an allusion to the Right Wing objection to the inclusion of a Socialist member, M. Monnet, in the Cabinet).

"Our only principle in foreign polloy is to reply to friendship with friendship to enmity with enmity.

"We shall not neglect any effort to make the workmen understand that, if we are fighting Communism it is not because of its extreme Left Wing doctrine but because of the organisa- tion of crime. The Communists have worked against the country; we shall crush them."

M. Reynaud added: “Liberty röv presents France's most precious heritage. We are with Britain in the camp of freedom, and we de- aire other nations to adhere to the Franco-British aim.

"The Franco-British agreement does not obliterate our sense of Latin solidarity."

DALÁDIER'S SUPPORT

** M. Reynaud revealed that he told M. Daladier he could not hope for a gov ernment without M- Daladier's sup- port, which was then given.

He answered criticism of the Inclusion of Socialists in the Cable not paying tribute to the patriotism of members of the 80- cialist party and asserting it was necessary to obtain the collabora tion of all especially the irgest: party in the Chamber,

solve the proble As for the were too many when Ministers

erni

to

Most papers, including the Social- ist "Populaire," express the convic- tion that the new Government will secure an overwhelming majority in Parliament: Havas.

PRESS APPROVAL

Paris, To-day. Interesting feature of the new French Government is the fact, that it includes three Socialists.

The French Ministry of Information is headed by a journalist. (M. Fros- sard).

There is general approval in the French press at the rapid way the change in Government was effected. "Reynaud is the right man for the job," the consensus is.

The French press believes that the Reynaud Government will carry on France's war effort with new vigour and energy-Reuter.

SECOND THOUGHTS

Paris, To-day. While there is nothing but praise for the way in which .M. Reynaud formed his Cabinet in just over 40 hours, the press offers his ment a rather reserved reception.

Govern-

General tendency is to judgment pending the Cabinet's ap- suspend

pearance before Parliament.

It is agreed that M. Reynaud' is the right man for the more active

there is anxiety that the new Cabinet policy demanded by both Houses but

is a little unwieldy. Everyone is glad M. Daladier is back,-Reuter.

Concluding his speech before the vote was taken, M. Reynaud said: "Our foreign policy tends to create a new union of free peoples.

"The problem of moral strength is as important as that of mäterial strength.

:

"We must reveal to France that the Government will fill the role of 'ani- mator if the Chamber permits."

our

DEMOCRACY ON TRIAL M. Reynaud concluded: “It is will to make war which will enable us with the least, possible delay to obtain the only possible lasting peace.

"By the vote you are about to cast you are taking a heavy ̋re- sponsibility in regard to foreign Moountries, Ma

"This war puts Democracy on trial with set jaws, for we have the will; to win and the certitude. – of victory."

The speech was greeted with loud applause from the Left.

BOCIALIST ATTITUDE

M. Leon Blum, said the Socialist. party joined the Government with- out any preliminary arrangement. Socialist co-operation was given

a disinterested and loyal spiritin

in

ere order to provide the country. with saldall means at its disposition to obtain overburdened a just and lasting peace In the who shortest possible time and with the

least possible sacrifices-Reuter.