FRANCE: Pour la Patrie

Because they are convinced that the Soviet Government, the Munitions Trust and other mysterious agglomerations pretty much dictate what is printed in Paris' larger papers, many Frenchmen buy daily for a copper or two thrilling Rightist sheetlets which hurl political dirt, libel and "inside dope" with such abandon that their passionate editors give at least the impression of sincerity. Yelped one such editor last week: "Shoot down like dogs the 160 Senators who want to suppress the Fascist Leagues!" Screamed another: "I take the responsibility for killing Leon Blum [Socialist Party Leader] !"

Even for Paris excitement had mounted high on a Communist-Socialist tide of alarms that Fascist youngsters were going to attempt a coup d'état and hurl white-whiskered statesmen of the French Republic into the icy waters of the Seine (TIME, Dec. 9). Not at all anxious for such a ducking is bewhiskered old Radical Socialist Deputy Henri Guernut, considered a great specialist in French political dirt because he was Chairman of the Chamber's Stavisky Committee. Accusingly last week Old Guernut shouted across the Chamber at Premier Pierre Laval: "The plotting of the Fascist Leagues is undeniable! Their object is to substitute for the Republic a Fascist regime. They themselves avow it and Colonel François de La Rocque announces as imminent a seizure of power by his Croix de Feu. Not one of the men who have been brought before the highest court of the land, during the last 50 years, for treason ever menaced the country so seriously as do the chiefs of the leagues!" If the Government is not aware of these facts," concluded Old Guernut, "I will place it on trial for ignorance! If it does know them I will place it on trial for complaisance! (Applause). . . . In a civilized society, there must be only one army— that of the Nation! (tremendous applause). . . . Either our Government will change its methods or we will change the Government!" On the spot in which Pierre Laval now found himself only a great master of the ambiguous could save the day. The Auvergnat is precisely that. He was first elected to the Chamber as a rabid Socialist. In a witty vaudeville sketch now convulsing Paris the actor playing M. Laval says of those early days: "I was never a Socialist; only the people who voted for me were." Today the Auvergnat is considered at heart a Fascist. For six months he has been ruling France by decrees which are those of a Dictator in every respect except the most important one. They were not imposed by force but issued under blanket authority voluntarily granted by the Chamber. A dictator and yet not a dictator, a fascist and yet not a fascist, a onetime socialist who was perhaps never really a socialist, Pierre Laval makes upon millions of Frenchmen the impression of a leader of prudence and common sense. After Deputy Guernut's wildly applauded attack, the Premier strolled out of the Chamber with a composure infuriating to personal enemies who know it is almost impossible to empty his sleeve of tricks.