FRANCE: Tardieu’s Accelerator

In France (almost the only great nation not burdened by unemployment) farsighted, go-getting Prime Minister André Tardieu last week presented the Chamber of Deputies Finance Committee with a broad, comprehensive Five-Year Plan of Public Works.

When murmurs rose against the “staggering estimated cost” (17 billion francs, or $666,400,000), dynamic M. Tardieu leaned bristling from the tribune. “Unemployment is coming in this country before the end of the year, Messieurs,” he cried, “unless you accelerate the tempo of national industry! . . . It is high time that these projects be launched if France is not to face a period of unemployment like her neighbors!”

Observers could not recall another recent instance in which the Chief Executive of a state still brilliantly prosperous has announced in advance a national program for rainy days to come.