Oil & Pacifists

Dragging a $156,710,400 deficit behind it the French budget moved from the Senate to the Chamber of Deputies last week. MM. les Deputies proceeded to increase the deficit by 846,000,000 francs and sent the budget back to the Senators again. Premier Daladier's is the job of forcing some sort of a compromise, and bringing the budget to final vote without losing his government, a business which Deputies, Senators and Cabinet all view with marked disfavor. Canny Socialist Deputies found a way of postponing the fateful day by attaching a rider to the budget giving the Government a monopoly on the importation and distribution of oil in France. Discussion of this, devising the machinery for taking over British and U. S. oil depots, may postpone the budget a month.

There will be no such delay if French taxpayers have their way. Protests at the unbalanced budget poured into Paris from all quarters last week. The National Committee of Economic Understanding called upon all Paris shops to close for a half-day in protest. Wrote the sober Temps, even before the Chamber increased the deficit:

"The budget of 49.000,000,000 francs which the Senate proposed signifies, if it be allowed to stand, a permanent deficit and certain inflation. . . . The hour is approaching when a choice must be made between the Left majority and France."

Temporarily sidetracked by the budget discussion last week was General Weygand's request to the War Council to increase the enlistment term for French War Babies, now of military age, from a year to 18 months (TIME, May 29). The army was still much in the government's mind. In his capacity as Minister of War, Premier Daladier lately discovered that not only is there a scarcity of young conscripts to fill the ranks, but that the young men available are showing an alarming tendency to refuse service, as conscientious objectors. From the headquarters of the Surete Generale (secret police) came a circular letter last week. Signed by Minister of the Interior Camille Chautemps, it was addressed to the Prefects of all 90 Departments of France. Excerpts:

"This movement [conscientious objecting] is connected with the most diverse circles from the religious and professional points of view. . . . Pacifist associations such as the Ligue des Combattants de la Paix. the Ligue Internationale des Jeunes la Guerre, the Ligue Populaire des Reesistants a l`a Guerre, etc. believe that refusal to bear or manufacture arms is the most effective way to avoid war.sb Officials belonging to the Departments of Education, Finance, and Posts & Telegraphs have openly shown their sympathy with 'conscientious objectors' who have recently been sentenced.

"The Minister of War [M. Daladier] has drawn my attention to the serious effects which such propaganda has produced among young soldiers, reservists, and even reserve officers. Several have already been sentenced by courts-martial. During their imprisonment or after sentence expressions of sympathy have been sent to them from various quarters and from abroad. . . . This movement ... is liable to gain a certain momentum if steps are not taken. . . .

"I should be obliged if you should get in touch with the military authorities of your department to take active steps."

sbFor a U. S. student vote on arms-bearing

see p. 44.

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