Farewell to France's 200 Reigning Families
Farewell to France's 200 Reigning Families Incoming- Socialist Reg-ime Is Pledged to End the Dictatorship oil Powerful Oligarchy Who Control the Bank of France and Dominate the Nation's Economic...
...In considering the alternatives to the League, the policy of refusing to take part in any war is dismissed as incapable of preventing war...
...If fat social conditions are so coafc-tuted that they do not ootasg* man's moral feelings, soaal gfe flows peacefully...
...Parties of the People's Front propose to end that reign by nationalization and reorganization of the Bank of France, whose directors, under their proposals, instead of being the leaders of a •financial autocracy, will include representatives of Labor, industry and agriculture, working along lines of policy laid down by the government...
...though the weapons they use are...
...It can be done if the penalties imposed by the members of the League are maintained and extended until Mussolini is willing that the League and not Italy should make the peace...
...Nevertheless, as Leon Blum has made dear, it pats the problems of "penury and unemployment" before those of finance...
...These principles include the renunciation of war as sat instrument of national policy...
...The People's Front does net believe hi devaluation...
...During the last years of thi 19th century and the first year* af the new century, when FsmsJrt ind particularly Paris, was ea tat brink of civil war, caused by th* Dreyfus affair and the Zola trial, and when the Socialist movement in consequence of those e«SEr was deeply shaken by the qussSa of ministerialism...
...From the long evotatnm, discipline and sufferings of humanity, man received ae a pt*6**» heritage the impulse toward* justice, equality and solidarity...
...It is for that reason that tb* Socialist takes part in the ekus struggle, {Labour, aVewS"sa"l...
...London Daily Herald...
...those of the barricades, but those of the Bourse and the Foreign Exchange Market, they are none the leas effective...
...The resolution, asserting that preservation of peace will not permit relaxing sanctions, demands a strengthening of collective security...
...The political and economic sav contents which are made the excuses for war most be dealt fw by calling a world economic «sa-ference, the manifesto uuuilnSSl There must be "international control of the sources and supply ** raw materials, with the asssag tion of the principle of ecos*asa equality of opportunity .far Si nations ia the undeveloped WMfi of the world...
...Instead, they have insisted, just as their opposite numbers in London insisted in 1931, upon a drastic policy of deflation, the most characteristic demonstration of which was in the crisis decrees put through by M. Laval's government last year, when wages and salaries of civil servants...
...The laws passed by a freely elected Parliament are bindihg upon all citizens...
...Labor stands for the rule of law, is the theme that runs through the statement like the motif of a symphony: "In democratic countries, conflicts of interest—economic, social or religious—are settled by discussion...
...the reduction of armaments to the lowest possible level...
...sr-~ - jDaf faebn Blum's lire And His View* He Lived Through the Stirring Period of th* Dreyfus Affair—Came Under Jaures' Influence and Dedicated His Life to the Cause of Socialism...
...It is net enough to fear war...
...They have used it first to keep France on the Gold Standard and to prevent any devaluation, just as bankers of London fought against an abandonment of the Gold Standard by Britain for as long, as they could, and, secondly, they have used it to force through drastic economy cuts...
...tTetn the power of the two hundred families is finally ended by complete nationalization of the Beak of France, politically inspired financial panics will conAnd of even greater importance, as long as their dictatorship re-**ai-js, there can be no real economic improvement for the French people as a whole and no real hope of international trade revival...
...Their aim will be to weaken the new government's position by a series of politically inspired financial crises which will, they hope, eventually split the People's Front and bring a swing over to a "National" government...
...bers are only loyal to it wISS their own interests are direew threatened...
...Armed force would be used only as a means of preventing and resisting aggression, and of ensuring security to all amfiaSSS •Labors policy ia that of collective security...
...lifth¦'¦¦TaiTirT^* *** M>* ¦est he prepared to ssMlp risks of loyalty to his prmdste when a strike or iockset * threatened Similarly S SJ*» sseat which supports the Leeret system cannot desert it to • crisis...
...Socialists Urge Sanctions Continue Against Italy BRUSSELS.—Sanctions against Italy must be maintained until the authority of' the league has been vindicated, the Labor and Socialist International declared in a resolution adopted here...
...I ONDOM...
...So it came mat after th* death of the old leaders isnne, Vaillant, Guesde aad Ssmbati ts* leadership of the party feu, naturally, to Blum, who, on this earn concentrated also upon himsstfSh deadly hostility of the BeyaSKt and fascists...
...Five of them speak for industry, seven of them for private banking...
...to come to an end, for the People's Front pledged itself during the ejection to overthrow "the two hundred families who art ruiaipg France...
...Blum's Socialist views are rSsM in ethics and in the sTurftas...
...He attended the Lycee Charlemagne and Henry IA', matriculated at the Ecole Noiinale Superieure, from which he emerged is a distinguished essayist yW literary and dramatic critic...
...The main responsibility for that drastic ¦ \ /. worsening of conditions must be pSt on the shoulders of the two hundred families...
...a conaidstshkj number, of intellectuals and id**], ists turned to the study of Socialism, and many of them, esse under the influence of Jean Jaai*** Among thorn was Leon Blum, H...
...The class struggle of the...
...And the critics of that body are answered in these words: the attacks of its enemies aad the failure of member states to honor their ebttgetssas...
...Ms-too* of France...
...the settlement of all disputes by peaceful means...
...I believe personally that the French Socialists would immensely strengthen their position in fighting the two hundred if they would carry through currency devaluation, for, on the experience of Britain, the Scandinavian countries, and even more recently of Belgium, such a measure would make possible an expansion of external and internal trade which would create such activity and confidence as to make France immune from the attacks of the crisis-mongers...
...iWSS^sjB^B^s^snssns^^B^Bf ^j^r^Kw^mmmw ^^^^^m...
...When that control is made effective, a great fight will have been won...
...To Force Baldwin's Hand With the Blum government committed to collaboration with the League, the Labor Party now sees its opportunity to force the hand of the Baldwin regime and bring about not only positive action to prevent Italy from reaping the fruits of her unprovoked attack on Ethiopia, but also the laying of the foundations for a collective system of mutual defense for the maintenance of peace...
...They may be summarized as follows...
...If States cannot settle such questions by direct negotiation, the wise counsel of other States must be brought to their support...
...There has been since the war a spate of governments in France, mate than it is easy to count or possible to remember...
...Meanwhile ,it is prepared for this country to make its proper contribution to the collective forces which are necessary for the preservation and defence of peace...
...The necessity for aa international armed force is boldly asserted: The collective organisation of security means that there must be forces available to carry out the decisions of the League, "British Labor believe, that the best way to ensure this is by the ultimate creation of aa international feres aad the reduction of all national armed forces to the lowest ¦osajhle level...
...For Collective Security Continuing, the manifesto says: "Labor, therefore, supports the principles embodied in the Covenant of the League of Nations...
...But the entry of Germany must depend on the renunciation of a policy of force and the acceptance of the principles of the Covenant...
...The following short sketch by * distinguished Socialist writer gives an idea of the, Ufe, character and view* of th^ man who is to be the first Socialist premier in France...
...At the same ths* colonial peoples must ho protosaO from "economic explotttstion" *PJ the profit of "imperialistic capitalistic powers sad groups...
...It ia a struggle which may well decide the fate of democracy in France...
...If, however, traditions change in such s snsaer that they bid defiance to the ethical impulse, earlier or fat iisaffections...
...The policy of alliances is no way out, it is held...
...They* ass bat slightly tinged with laarxtim...
...With respect to Germany, the manifesto declares: "An effort must be made now to frame a general agreement for mutual aid and security aad for disarmament to cover at least the whole of Europe in which Germany should be invited to participate on an equal footing with other states...
...An indirect criticism of Free* which has been reluctant to *» force sanctions against Italy because its owe interests wire aft directly concerned, as well as « England, which saw shown its at-willingness to stand by the I**** Treaty in defending France again** Germany's occupation of the Bhia*-land, is indicated hi the foHswiSg pointed remark: "The League will be futile at an instrument of peace if aaSSr...
...British Labor will not support its government in a war in which the latter is the aggressor, or .fails to submit a dispute to arbitration, is the blunt and forthright declaration contained in the manifesto: - -far Rale of Law "British Labor again declare* that it will not support any British government if it becomes involved in a war by its own aggressive action...
...British Labor Party Demands x System of Collective Defense To Avert Grim Reality of War Manifesto Timed to Coincide With Advent of Blum Government Reaffirms Support of League of Nations and Joint Action Against Aggression—Urges an International Force to Back Up the League and Reduction of National Armaments-Continuance of Sanctions Against Italy and Summoning of World Economic Conference Is Urged...
...Pacifism No Cart The way to organize peace is through the League of Nations, declares the National Council...
...His eloquence, animated by the spirit of social ethics, his mature judgment aad capaertj for conciliating the conflicting opinions within the parry, earned for him the respect of ma colleagues...
...The Council, which speaks for e/gltf, mjjlion supporters of the Labor Party and a large section of the public in sympathy with its policies on foreign affairs, calls for the strengthening of the League of Nations, the compulsory settlement- of disputes by arbitration, the vigorous application of sanctions and the creation of an international force to be used against aggressors in a far-reaching system of collective security...
...Farewell to France's 200 Reigning Families Incoming- Socialist Reg-ime Is Pledged to End the Dictatorship oil Powerful Oligarchy Who Control the Bank of France and Dominate the Nation's Economic life—Failure to Immediately Nationalize the Bank Will Bar Economic Improvement and Permit the Ruling Clique to Engineer Financial Panics, Writer Warns—Holds Fate of Democracy in France Is at Stake...
...From trade revival will come an increased national revenue, which will lead to an improved budgetary position...
...1 ethics and practically s reus**, though also a theory, mere sf iafc economic than a political nataa, since the conditions, which violssi the ethical impulse, arise fi*e economic facts, from private prjr erty, production aad exchange *t commodities...
...Between them they control close an Sixty per cent of the industrial production . of France and have Interests covering, in addition to hanking, insurance, shipping, raiP ways and mining, practically every •eeVea of the economic life of That alone would be sufficient "Og^ them great influence...
...From that it is possible to deduce that if it is found, as I believe it will be found, that a maintenance of the franc at its present value is incompatible with economic improvements, the franc will be revalued...
...r Whom have they to fight, and what Would be the consequences of victory...
...Declaring that the danger of war is no longer a phrase but a "grim reality," the "National Council of Labor representing the combined forces of the trade unions and the Labor Party has issued a stirring manifesto clearly defining the policies to be followed in the present critical international situation...
...Nor is isolation possible because of the far-flung territories of the British Empire and its closeness to the continent in an age of air warfare...
...But iaSStii?^ during recent years PPa *een enormously reinforced by \ further fact...
...to the outraged moral suiillwsA, 'Socialism," declares Blum...
...To what end have they used their power...
...rebellions sad r*ff> tions arise, whose put pose it «% bring the conditions of life toh some sort of harmony with Sw ethical impulse...
...They will fight...
...Not, if...
...Mat is only at peace with himself sal his fellow-men as long aa be fejfi able to follow his morel sentimsjh and subordinate his personei jjs terests to the common weal...
...By Max Boot* (Leon Blum, leader of tike French Socialist Party, will head the new People"t Front government to be formed next month with the convocation of the newly elected Chamber of Deputies...
...THE present leader of the French * Socialist movement and editor of its central organ, Le Populaire, was bora in 1872, in Paris, in one of those old French Jewish families noted for learning, culture and wealth...
...Despite its defects, the League is still the \ only existing organizat ion which can possibly fulfill the task of preserving peace...
...But, although against devaluation, the Socialist government will completely reverse the economy campaign of the bank and will carry through big schemes of employment-creating public work, schemes which will have the dual objective of improving the condition of the ordinary people and reviving trade...
...the Socialist government carries out its policy, their rule is...
...As these bills fall due, the position of the Treasury becomes more difficult...
...railway workers, municipal employees, transport workers and others were heavily reduced and the social services slashed These decrees were, as was common knowledge, dictated by the bank...
...Non-resistance has set saved the Jews in Germany...
...So far as the general economic situation is concerned, the policy they have insisted upon has, while safeguarding the interests of the large investors, led to a drastic fall in foreign trade and to a serious diminution of industrial activity...
...These two hundred families are the- largest stockholders of the Bask of France...
...It' was only pressure of public opinion that forced the abandonment of the Hoare-Laval agreement for the dismemberment of Ethiopia, but this was succeeded by a long delay before restricted economic sanctions were imposed and then by refusal to bar all supplies of oil to Italy from members nations of the League...
...A In order to find the money to meet these bills, it has had to appeal again and again to the Bank of France for support in the discounting of treasury bills—that is for the advance of short-term loans...
...Says the manifesto: "The practically defenseless condition of China and Abyssinia has not saved them from imperialist aggression...
...As a consequence, whereas in those countries which have abandoned the Gold Standard, such as Britain, the index of industrial production has now increased to above the 1929 level, in France it is still, despite a slight recovery at the beginning of this year, more than 30 per cent below it The position in France and the other gold bloc countries has, indeed, continued to deteriorate with hardly a pause, while trade conditions in all other countries have started to recover...
...Certainly, whatever is done about the franc, governmental control of the Bank of France is one of the first essentials, and to that the People's Front is pledged...
...it* struggle of man against tnaa Socialism is the long*d-for fay social form, which is to 4s jaMi...
...They have set themselves solidly against any attempt to improve economic conditions by an expansionist policy based on big public works and other developments such as the Socialist Party stands for...
...That Labor is fully taaeassaj of the implications of the policy it espouses is dearly set forth ia unmistakable language: Control Row MosattaJs "Labor most be prepared to accept the consequences of its policy...
...Under this system, instead of each nation depending for its defense ea its •wm forces, it relies npon the joint action of the forces of all peace-loving State* to prevent aggression or to bring it to aa end...
...It is not to be expected that the two hundred families will allow themselves to be overthrown without a struggle...
...By Francis William* Financial Editor of the London . Daily Herald fJTHEX the f i r* t Socialist • government of France takes office on June 2 there will follow h struggle of the most profound importance to the people of Prance and to the whole world...
...The spearhead of the power of the two hundred families is to be found in the twelve non-government representatives on the General Council of the Bank of France...
...And the race in armament building would go on, leading up a blind alley out of which was might be the only way out...
...these facts ceoOel more or leas the institution*!* society, and it is the business a he Socialists to change them * such a manner as to allow fas scope to the ethical impulse sf man...
...Against all such measures the two hundred families will fight— just as they have fought all along...
...This can only be done by proper organization...
...It has endeavored to ease its position by borrowing, in London, but even that was only possible with the assistance of the Bank of France, for British bankers were unwilling to lend on the French Treasury's- credit alone, but demanded, as an additional safeguard, that the ?40,000,000 credit advanced should be guaranteed by the setting aside of an equivalent amount of gold at the Bank of France...
...it ia not enough to long for peace: peace must be organised...
...The Labor Party now more than ever insists that Italy shall not be permitted to profit by its ruthless attack upon Ethiopia: "Italy must be prevented from reaping the fruits of a lawless, cowardly and brutal act of violence...
...Throughout the economic depression the French budget has been so seriously unbalanced that the Treasury has on numerous occasions not even been in a position to meet ordinary regular payments in salary and other accounts...
...the obligation of all nations to take common action to prevent aggression...
...Ia the as*** year he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies in one of the Baas constituencies...
...If the government refuses to submit a dispute to arbitration, or if it is condemned as an aggressor by the League of Nations, British Labor will resolutely decline to support the government...
...It accounts for the strong grip over every recent government exercised by the two hundred families...
...The overthrow of that dictatorship is the most immediate and the * aioat important business of the democratic forces in France...
...That is the sorry situation to which French finances have been brought by previous governments and which the Socialist government now inherits...
...It breeds counter-alliances and competition in armaments, and leads to war...
...The advent next week of a Socialist coalition cabinet in France, headed by Leon Blum, who has already announced that "Great Britain may rely upon Franger' to support the collective action of the League of Nations," has given impetus to the movement for saving the League, whose prestige has been all but shattered by the sabotage of both the French and British governments...
...Similarly in a community of nations, disputes mast be settled by peaceful means...
...There is no doubt but that the proclamation is issued with the deliberate purpose of renewing the fight to force the Tory "National" Government to call a halt to its half-hearted and wavering policy which has enabled Italy to complete the military occupation of Ethiopia...
...a fight of democracy against financial autocracy, carrying with it a lesson of supreme importane—the lesson that the people must control finance if political freedom is to be more than a name...
...But the power behind each of these governments hae been the Bank of France, and the power behind the hank, has been the two hundred families, who form a compact oligarchy unequalled in any other country...
...During the war be worked saw assistant of Marcel Sembat to tat Ministry for Public Works, sal towards the end of the wee, whs* a reorganization of the party he-came necessary, Bins* took a large part in drafting the new prograe, whose exponent he was a*the party conference in 1919...
...They alone out of'the bank's 40,000 shareholders have, under its constitution, the right to appoint the regents wha control the bank's policy and through it the finances of the government...
...tariat ia a moral rebellion sgstort the conditions of capitalist socks*, with its flagrant inequalities, M disco rdan t group in terests...
...It would, moreover, require gigantic armed forces to overawe any combination of states and require huge expenditures...
...For it will take the form of the first real battle there has been between the people of France *nd the two hundred families who, for more than a century, have been the secret dictators of the Republic...
...assisted Jaures in founding 2* Humaniti (1904) and esgtrjjSr to its literary articles, but it eat only in 1914 that Blum hejasa known publicly as an aetin»;,s> ciahst...
Vol. 19 • May 1936 • No. 22
