M. Blum and the Press M. Blum's Bill to control
the French Press, together with the important Labour Arbitration Bill, comes up for consideration by the Chamber this week. The Press Bill has three objects. By forcing newspapers to register as limited companies, whose accounts are open to examination, it will attempt to free the Press from private interests or international influence working secretly through bribery and fonds secret : the most glaring recent example of such influence is the bribing of French newspapers during the Abyssinian campaign. Secondly, it seeks to prevent the publication of false news which damages the credit of France and of the State ; and lastly, by strengthening the law of libel, it seeks to protect public men against such attacks as caused the death of M. Salengro. The methods of the French Press have made the Bill necessary, yet it is regarded with some suspicion, especially by the Radicals, as a serious interference with the liberty of the Press : the Radical paper l'Oeuvre has criticised it severely. M. Blum has an anxious week to survive ; it is even feared that the debate on foreign affairs may cause the defection of the Communists and the resignation of his Government.
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