K Barthou, the new French Foreign Minister, made his first
statement of policy in the Chamber on Thursday week. He declared that Alsace-Lorraine must be restored to France. Germany must be compelled to make reparation and restitution, and to give guarantees of a durable peace. The Socialists, who nurse an old grudge against M. Barthou as the author of the Three Years Military Service Bill, though it undoubtedly saved France in this war, demanded that he should define the nature of the guarantees which he proposed to exact. K Barthou declined to enter into a discussion which would be premature and dangerous. When the Chamber divided, the Government were supported by 288 votes against 137, but 150 members abstained from voting, thus leaving K Barthou's position insecure. The Allied Conference will perhaps help to clear up the political situation in France and in the other Allied countries.
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