The French Elections" When Herr Hitler re-occupied the Kliineland, it
seemed as if panic and fear might combine to cheat the Front Populaire in France of its expected victory in the elections which begin.on April 26th. But Hitler's action may have sobered rather than scared the nation. The 'French have not given way to panic, and there is so little disagreement on foreign policy—except as regards the maintenance of sanctions against Italy—that domestic affairs are still the deciding factor. The last elections returned the Radical-Socialists as the largest party. Since then France has • endured the successive crises caused by German rearmament, Stavisky, Mussolini and the occupation of the Rhineland, but once again is ruled by Radical Ministry under M. &arrant; which seems more stable than any French Government for some time. The Left still seems to haVe the" country's confidence. The Fascist Leagues have been discredited, and the Right :has lost strength owing to the behaviour of 'nationalist and authoritarian Governments elsewhere. The Front Popu- laire has been strengthened by M. Blunes declaration that, for the first time, the Socialists are willing to take office, and by its consistent support of the Franco-SoViet Pact. Unless the possibility of devaluation frightens the peasant and the rentier, the electoral prospects of the 'Left are good.
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