* * * * France M. Chautemps, on his first
appearance before the Chamber last week at the head of his new Radical Government, received a vote of 501 to r, the 1 being cast by M. Bergery ; the unanimous comment on this majority has been that it is too good to last. M. Chautemps flattered the Left and the Front Populaire, promised to continue their programnie of social reform and to introduce his labour code imme- diately, praised M. Blum and M. Dormoy, and violently denounced Les Cagoulards. This complete reversal of the attitude which brought down his previous Government se- cured him the support even of the Communists, and indeed left the Chamber little choice but to wait until his words have been tested in practice. The actual situation gives little sign of the unanimity shown by the Chamber ; on the one hand the Paris working-class appears to have moved to the Left of the Socialists and the Communists, on the other the Right has continued its attacks on the franc. But M. Chautemps has at least taken one step already which may be of decisive importance, by appointing General Gamelin, under M. Daladier, to supreme command of all the armed forces, with responsibility for armaments. This appointment may do much to remedy the inadequacy of France's armament production, especially in aircraft. But the unification of the three defence departments under the War Minister is disapproved by the Air and Navy Committees of the Chamber.
