M. Blum's New Powers In crisis after crisis M. Blum
has been on the verge of defeat and has survived because no one is willing to take the immense responsibility of breaking up the Popular Front. On Tuesday it was the Communists who decided to withdraw their support ; but after an all-night sitting in the Chamber they changed their minds and M. Blum secured an unexpectedly large majority of 99. What advantage the Communists could gain by forcing a crisis is difficult to imagine ; but they are believed to think that M. Herriot would be a more enthusiastic supporter of the Franco-Soviet Pact than M. Blum. The Government has asked for authority until the end of this session to take measures by decree to protect the public finances, the currency, public credit and investments ; this resort to the hated methods of M. Laval has been necessitated by the disastrous flight of French capital abroad and by the need to bridge the Budget deficit. There is no doubt that the flight of capital is, to some extent at least, an attempt by financial interests to drive M. Blum from office ; certainly, if it succeeded, it would be regarded by the country as a victory for " the zoo families " over the Popular Front. M. Blum his still to face the Senate, where his proposals may be defeated ; if they get through he will be able to proceed with his measures to prevent speculation and above all to increase, justifiably, direct taxation and frustrate tax evasion.
* * * *
