Death & Crisis

Gigantic, limping Andre Maginot, Minister of War, died last week of typhoid fever. Friends of indomitable old Aristide Briand were forced to admit that he was too sick a man to continue as Foreign Minister. The Cabinet of Pierre Laval tottered.

To his friends, towering Minister Maginot was always "The Sergeant." At the beginning of the War he gave up his seat in the Chamber and enlisted as a private. He lost a leg at Verdun, and realizing that after the War he would value the votes of thousands of poilus, refused to accept any promotion beyond a sergeant's stripes. Always immaculately dressed, formidable champion of the French militarists, Sergeant Maginot carried his sabre-rattling beyond politics. Despite his wooden leg he was an excellent fencer. France buried him last week with all the funeral honors she had bestowed on Marshal Foch. In the church St. Louis-des-Invalides, Premier Laval delivered the oration.

"Like all Frenchmen," said he, "Maginot was profoundly devoted to peace, but he considered that France unarmed was exposed to aggressions which would imperil not only France's existence but the stability of Europe."

Rheumy old Brer Briand remained stubborn to the end. His health has been none too good all winter. He was placed on a milk diet last fortnight; last week he suffered two heart attacks in 24 hours. Doctors insisted that for the sake of his health he must give up the Foreign Ministry. Brer Briand glories in the fact that probably no Foreign Minister since Metternich wields the international influence that is his. He had the figure of invalid, politically impotent Raymond Poincare before his eyes. The only promise that could be extracted from him was that he placed his portfolio at the disposal of Premier Laval in case the entire Cabinet resigned collectively.

It seemed the best way out of a difficult situation. Premier Laval offered the Ministry of War to his former superior, Andre Tardieu. M. Tardieu was in no hurry to accept it. In France no one can remain Minister of War who does not talk and act like a Nationalist. As Premier only a year ago Andre Tardieu was building an international reputation as a moderate, a conciliator. He still hopes for a chance to replace extraordinarily lucky Pierre Laval. Laval fought earnestly to save his Government by forcing Andre Tardieu, now Minister of Agriculture, into the War

Ministry, taking over the active duties of Foreign Minister himself, and saving Brer Briand's pride by appointing him Minister of State, free to take up again his usual spellbinding at the League in Geneva as soon as he feels well enough.

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