We will act alone if we must to make
her disarm."
Serious Break Averted,
The boldness of the Premier's 3tand
recms certain to avert what threatened
tc he a serious menace to his political
life. For while he is able to control the
Chamber of Deputies, a majority of
whose membership is composed of young
politicians, the Senate la constituted of
older merl w-lio are up to ail kinds of
political tricks, and who are suspected
of favoring M. Poinrare for Premier
An the Government cannot take any ac
tion to get, Fran< e out of her bad finan
cial boie n- even accept the Reparation
Commission s ngure for reparations from
Germany unless the financial features
of the agreement are approved by the
Senate. Premier Briand's position might
have become critical had lie not taken
the wind out. of his opponents' sails
The Senate, after the Premier's dec
laration and following the Insistence by
Paul Doumer. Minister of Finance, that
i the budget must be passed Immediately
and that financial issues were tempo
rarily overshadowing all else, decided to
leave exterior politics out of the disc
slon.
This was not according to the book of
Premier Briand's opponents, but appar
ently they were rot willing to go on
record as opposing the Government on
tliis point and agreed to reserve exterior
affairs for discussion later this wee*, or
perhaps after the allied Supreme Coun
cil has had Its fling.
Repnrntlon Short of Damage.
Senator Cheron In opening the debate
estimated Fiance's nortion of the Ger
man ree.iratlons as lSI.ObO.Oon.ofin
francs, which would he much reduced a?
exchange improves, and this must covr
damage estimated by l.ouis Louche,jr.
