28 OCTOBER 1938, Page 2

M. Daladier does not yet seem to have made up

his mind on the policy France must follow in the new and dangerous era in her history which has recently opened. The Right complains that he is not the " strong man " France needs in her present crisis. In fact, however, M. Daladier appears still to be cautiously pursuing the policy he has consistently carried on during the past year—that of forming a Right Wing majority without causing too serious a breach with the Socialists or within his own Radical party. So delicate a manoeuvre has necessarily made him appear indecisive. The decisions he has so far taken have been forced on him rather than adopted voluntarily. Thus the idea of dissolving Parliament or of forming a new Cabinet including both the Right and the Socialists has been abandoned owing to the opposition of M. Marin, the Right Wing leader on whose support M. Daladier chiefly depends. M. Marin's position has been strengthened by the victories of his party, the Republican and Democratic Union, in this week's elections to the Senate ; and this swing to the Right, inevitable after the failure of the Front Populaire, must confirm M. Daladier in his policy. This week he is expected to outline to the Radical congress at Marseilles the decree-laws to be passed before the period of plenary powers expires. He has promised to speak plainly, but he may still continue to say no more than he possibly can. * * * *