Foreign News: Blank Check

An old French custom—democracy—bobbed up again last week in Paris, much to the embarrassment of the Government of Premier Edouard Daladier. For over a year the Premier has ruled his country with a firm—and sometimes heavy—hand by the simple expedient of persuading the French Parliament to grant him powers to issue decrees having the force of law. Before September M. Daladier's favorite argument for such powers was the deepening European crisis. Since September he has had an even better selling point—War.

Last week the decree powers granted to M. Daladier eight months ago...