More Babel

Premier Paul Painleve's new fiscal measure, intended to balance the French budget by "a levy on all forms of wealth," (TIME, Nov. 9 el seq.) was got through the Finance Committee of the Chamber last week and presented to the deputies en masse.

M. Painleve boldly stated that the factional discord now disrupting French politics (TIME, Nov. 23 et ante) had prevented the bill from being anything more than a compromise measure, but added: "I have sought the advice of every party, and if in the end the bill was framed to meet the majority opinion, it was because the minority limited its advice to what the Government should not do. . . . The bill is not perfect. . . . It is a positive and creative measure. . . . Regardez-le bien! . . . Is it not the only really constructive attempt which has been made to deal with the present grave fiscal situation?"

But the Chamber did not heed M. Painleve. For an entire week it seethed and bubbled with debate, the character of which was such that no less than 120 hopelessly conflicting amendments were offered and howled down by everyone not of the faction interested. At length M. Painleve called for a tentative "vote of confidence" by offering a motion to close the general debate and begin debate upon the provisions of the bill in detail.

For an instant the deputies stopped gesticulating long enough to hold up their right hands and have them counted. Two hundred and ninety-four sweating palms were for M. Painleve. Two hundred and fifty more or less clenched fists were against him. Once more the Radicals and Socialists had held together sufficiently to allow the Government to continue in office. Amid cheers and imprecations the debate upon the articles of the new scheme in detail got under way and threatened to continue ad lib.

It did not so continue, however. Before the Deputies had considered even half the bill in detail, it was obvious that an utter impasse had been reached. Despairing, M. Painleve saw his measure go down by the slender margin of 275 to 278 when a vote was taken on the the much criticized Fifth Article, envisioning a virtual moratorium on the short-term Treasury bonds falling due next month (TIME, Nov. 23).

Swiftly the Premier collected the resignations of the members of his Cabinet, added his own thereto, drove straight to President Doumergue at the Elysee, and quit. For the second time within a fortnight France was without a Ministry (TIME, Nov. 9).

Cried M. Painleve, as he stepped down from power: "Vive la Republique! But let her friends guard her well. There are many who would exploit her to the fullest in this critical hour."

Syrian Affairs

Senator Henry de Jouvenel, able editor-in-chief of Le Matin, one time French delegate to the League of Nations and recently appointed French Civilian High Commissioner to Syria (TIME, Nov. 16) is known in Paris as a man of caution and of peace. Those qualities recommended him highly as a successor to General Maurice Sarrail, the recalled French High Commander to Syria (TIME, Nov. 9). Last week Frenchmen were well pleased as M. de Jouvenel slipped quietly over to London for a conference with British Foreign Secretary Austen Chamberlain, preparatory to setting out for Syria.

Since the French Mandate in Syria adjoins the British Mandate in Palestine, M. de Jouvenel an nounced that he wished to come to an amicable understanding concerning any possible sources of friction between the two mandates. Said he, after a conference, a dinner, another conference, and a few hours at a supper club with Mr. Chamberlain:

"My hasty trip to England has been one of complete pleasure and satisfaction. . . . Mr. Chamberlain is delightful . . . charming. . . the soul of candor and honesty . . . so intelligent ... so utterly frank. . . . Some continental newspapers recently made remarks on the con duct of British representatives in Syria.* After my conversations with Mr. Chamberlain I can say these representatives have always in their statements to their chief displayed the utmost desire for co operation with the French administration."

M. de Jouvenel continued:

"In order that I might have a clear conception of my task in Syria, it was essential that the boundaries should be settled with neighboring territories. In our discussion we have agreed to hasten the delimitation of frontiers be tween Syria on the one hand and the British mandated territories of Palestine and Irak on the other. I also hope to go to Angora at an early date to settle the Syrian boundaries with Turkey. . . . My policy is to work with the League of Nations and to bring to Syria full independence at the soonest possible moment."

Early next morning he returned to France.

*General Sarrail was reported in the French press as alleging that the British consul at during Damascus the had "nearly created as panic" during the recent French bombardment of that city (TIME, Nov. 9), and had sent distorted reports to London on the situation.