THE FRENCH CRISIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 75, 28 March 1924, Page 5

THE FRENCH CRISIS.

WHY POINCARE RESIGNED. j A SWAP DIVISION. i (By Cable.—Press Association.— Copyrlght-l PARIS, March 27. N 1 The public are astonished at the Cabinet crisis and M. Poincare's resignation. Inasmuch as M. I'oincare had •weathered the storm" n connection fiwitli electoral reform, nobody expected • h.im to accept defeat on a snap vote. The -issue was r,s to whether State employee, •should revive pension benefits on the i same scale as other pensioners. This : addition would cost francs, ''so II de Lastevrie, Minister oi Finance, i! refused to add' the State employees to > th A curious fact is that only SO deputies , I were present in the Chamber at the I time of the division, whored 535 votes f were cast. The rest of the votes were ■'oast by ushers, who filled in the form-, ■Ifor absent deputies, who had left tueir <j voting papers in the ushers' hands. I i The defeat, therefore, was in m> wav 'considered to be a vote of want of conh--1 deuce in M. Poincare. The vote in the ; chamber was most unexpected. ■ ! M Poincare was not present. He was i in an adjacent room making a statement Ito the Foreign Affair? Committee He I J apparently did not think his attendance ' in the Chamber was necessary. ! ' CH.TJX OF THE CASE. I The Pension Bill was voted In the ■ 'Chamber -it the end of 1!>23. and m the 1 Senate in February last. But the Senate . adopted the Government's recommendation, reducing the pensions to workers . '„„ the ground of economy. This aroused , the Opposition parties i.f the .eft. who ■ are championing the cause of the workI ers. The Government insisted on the . ! acceptance of the Senate's amendment ■i The Opposition thereupon introduced ■ a motion t<. refer the bill to the Finance i Committee, with a view to its revision in a form that would conciliate the i views of the Senate and the Chamber. : The Government opposed the bills refer- ■ nice back to the committee on the j .-round of urgency, and M. de Lasteyne ' : made ihe question one of confidence. " I Upon the announcement of the figures. - I 271 to the (.'number adjourned. 1' " When the Prime Minister was told of .it he crisis which had arisen in hh nbsenee lie and other members ot the ; ' Cabinet met immediately. In a few , ■ moment? they had decided to proceed ; to the Elysee and hand in their rejijrna- ' lion* M." Poincare apparently thinking - ho would have a better chance at the 1 pkcti<ms if lie went to the electors com- ' ptainirtg thai his financial reforms had • b-'en defeated on a snap vote. IRREVOCABLE DECISION. ' i The Prime Minister nnd his colleagues Most no time in carrying out their rur--Ip< so. Tho result of the vote had been ! announced at noon, and M. Poincare 1 : tendered his resignation to M. Milierand I'iU 1115 P.m. A Cabinet Council, under ,!thf presidency of SI. Milierand, sat till 11.15 p.m.. when it was announced that !itlu- r.-i-:na-i.vi of the Poincare Ministry - i had been accepted. 1 I A communique was issued, statin;: that i M. M'llerand strongly ursed M. I'oincare 1 lo present himself airain to the Chamber 1 and Senate in the afternoon, in order to f receive another vote, but M. Poincare 8 tia+.ly refused. , ? '■ M. Poincare left the Elvsee Fininns. ] Tic told the assembled journalists that - ; lie had finally and irrevocably decided * not to remain in power. ,1 It is now expected that M. Milierand 0 : will call on M. Barthou to form a I "aliig ! net. M. Briantl. the former Prime s'Minister, has stated that he will not 1 I accept office until after the election-. t>\ If M. Poincare change* h;s mind l.c v'may dro» M. de T.astevnc uml M. elChtron. Minister of AariciiUure. neither ~ lof whom is popular. He may also in<i-t Tioii a temporary floveriiment entitled J "The Ministry of National Defence. - (Renter.) \fter the defeat of llif Poincare MmUtry all the Ministers waited on M. i Poincare and ureeil him t.. retain office. IXhev failed to alter his decision, how!i ef and nevertheless r wa- rumour.-.! 3 " later that M. Poiiuare may cpsent to !retain olliee. I The Chamber adjourned until mto. I - nj Government contrary t<, order*. ' i-,--..vi l>v >! Milierand m form a new " m/Poincare asked for time "/to colder. He Pumiced l« g!ve hv, 'inply to-morrow.-("Sim. I ie ' v THE FRENCH MINISTRY. u> i PREMIER TO REFORM. il| PARIS, Marc 1 . 27. M I'.iiiuare has to re-form ilia j Ministry--' A. and X.7., Cable. 1