Facing the Chamber
Friday, December 27, Paris. Dexter Jones walked down the crowded sidewalks of rue de l’Université towards the Palais Bourbon, home of the Chamber of Deputies. The street was jammed with motorcars, the police worked to keep groups of people moving. Dexter showed his diplomatic pass at a police cordon, walked past groups of Mobile Guards guarding the approaches, and entered the building, heading upstairs to the diplomatic gallery. The gallery was already packed; Dexter stood at the rear.
President of the Chamber Fernand Bouisson announced, “The President of the Council.”
Pierre Laval walked to the tribune and began. “It was at my request that the Chamber open today this debate on foreign policy.” He briefly summarized the Hoare-Laval proposals, noting, “I have reminded you that it was in conformity with the principles and the spirit of the League Covenant.”
The premier set forth the standard upon which the debate should turn, “The essential question before us is to know whether the policy I have pursued is in conformity or not with the interests of my country. That is the only question which has to be examined by the French Chamber.”
He explained in further detail the proposals he and Sir Samuel Hoare had worked out, “Our proposals, which have been judged excessive, seemed reasonable to us…Sir Samuel Hoare explained them in the House of Commons in moving language, with a dignity which did him honor and which compelled the admiration even of those who had judged us most harshly.” Laval concluded movingly, “He defended our common work.”
The premier next turned to the all-important future. “What will happen tomorrow? We agree that the Paris proposals are dead, but the way of conciliation remains open.”
Dexter thought that there was another alternative: the war could simply grind on and Hitler would opportunistically pick up the broken pieces from the crumbling Stresa front.
Laval concluded and returned to the government bench to listen to the debate.
Léon Blum strode forward to the tribune to open the attack for the Opposition, arguing that Laval continued to threaten France with a false alternative: his policy or war.
Blum loftily proclaimed, “Peace depends upon equal rights between nations and on their mutual support of one another. Today, a collective system was showing its power for the first time, but instead of rejoicing at this and at the attitude of Great Britain, the government had shown sympathy for the aggressor and has given cause to suspect that it was unfaithful to the Covenant.”
Blum continued, somewhat more tiresomely than Dexter thought necessary, and then concluded with deeply personal attacks on Laval, attacks uncharacteristic of parliamentary debate:
“You have proceeded in the great affairs of the world as we have seen you proceed here, every day in petty affairs and petty dealings. You tried to give and at the same time to take. You have tried to play both ends against the middle…what is deplorable is this: insensitive to the nobility and power of great and disinterested things, you have reduced them to the scale of your petty means.
“And that is how, with your petty mistakes, you have succeeded in accumulating a great disaster.”
After several more speakers, Paul Reynaud, highly respected and a former supporter of the government, came forward. Reynaud assured the Chamber that the nation which France had to fear was not Italy but Germany, and that the nation whose support she needed most was Great Britain. Dexter agreed, so far.
Reynaud asked, “What chance had Europe of escaping war?”
He answered his own question, “The textbook of German youth is still Mein Kampf in which Herr Hitler said that Germany must ensure the neutrality of Great Britain in order to have France at her mercy. The movement in favor of the League and of collective security in Great Britain is a godsend for France.”
Reynaud argued that the failure of the Hoare-Laval proposals was such a godsend because it renewed popular support in Great Britain in favor of the League and of collective security. Dexter felt the argument contrived: failure rarely had a silver lining in international politics.
Reynaud then added a pleasing touch for his listeners, “The problem of peace has been solved by the victory of a French idea,” referring to France’s championship of the creation of the League of Nations after the world war.
He concluded, “France has to choose today between Italy, the breaker of the Covenant, and Great Britain, the guardian of the Covenant.”
With the clock approaching ten o’clock in the evening, the president of the Chamber adjourned the session to the following day. Dexter walked out past the police cordons and started towards rue Monsieur in the chill winter evening. In his view, none of the Opposition speakers had dealt with the world the way it was, but as they wished to see it.
Dexter crossed the courtyard and opened the front door. Marcelle smiled, kissed him welcome, and took his overcoat and muffler, adding, “We have warm coffee and cognac in the drawing room for the weary warrior. Something to eat?”
“Both, thank you.”
“How is the debate proceeding?”
“If the vote were held today, the premier would lose.”
Marcelle smiled and said matter-of-factly, “Tomorrow will be another day.” They entered the drawing room and took seats near the crackling fireplace. She handed him a large crystal goblet partially filled with cognac.
“Uhmm,” he purred as he took a long swallow.
He turned and looked at Marcelle, businesslike, “Laval opened with a clear declaration that the way forward was conciliation. None of the Opposition heard him. But it is the only good option on the table. Besides, the time is ripe.”
Marcelle looked a little perplexed. “Why is the time ripe?”
“Italy is in a ‘black period.’ On the northern front, four Ethiopian armies under the leadership of some of their great warrior chieftains closed with the Italians. They inflicted severe and bloody casualties on the Italians. The warriors attacked the Italian tanks with bare hands and pulled the Italians out.”
Dexter took a swallow of his cognac and looked at Marcelle, “Then they beheaded them.”
Marcelle took this calmly. “I see.”
Dexter added, “The warriors put the other Italians to flight, sending them running back towards their own territory.”
“So?”
“Now is the time to offer Mussolini a face-saving way out of the quagmire. He’ll take it. But only Laval seems to see the opportunity.”
“Why?”
“Everyone else speaks of principles, ideals, or,” and Dexter said disbelievingly, “honor.”
“Yes, Premier Laval said that morals were one thing, but a country’s interests were another,” recalled Marcelle.
“Quite so.”
Marcelle came over and sat beside him and stroked his hair, caressed his neck, and said, “Let’s go to bed. Tomorrow will be another day. The premier is very persistent and the Opposition is not yet ready to turn him out, no one wants to form a government and be held accountable for a budget that slashes spending.”
Dexter said, “Yes, Laval’s austerity plan will carry the Popular Front to victory in the May elections. The country hates the budget. But they should all stand behind their country so that Germany can’t pick up a cheap trick in the Rhineland.”
Marcelle looked serious for a moment. “That is my unanswered question in this dilemma. What is right for France? And will the politicians see it?”