FRENCH CRISIS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18100, 16 June 1924, Page 9

FRENCH CRISIS.

PRESIDENCY CONTEST.

M. DOUMERGUE ELECTED.

FRIENDLY TO ENGLAND. ' (BY CABLE—PSESS ASSOCUTIOK COfXRIOET.) (AO6TRAUAS AND K.Z.. CABMS ABBOCUTIOH.) J?ARIS, June 13. M. Doumergue' has been elected President of France. M. Doumergue obtained 515 rcotes, and M. Painleve 309. The report that H. Herriot would not accept the Premiership from a President elected with"votes from the; Right has been disposed of by an announcement by friends of M. Herriot that whoever may be elected President, M. Herriot will answer his call if he is invited to form a Cabinet. M. Doumergue, though a RadicalSocialist, largely owes his election fo the fact that the Centre and Right voted for him in order to defeat the official candidate of the Left parties, M. Painlevey whom , the Moderates considered more a party man than M. Doumergue. The new President began life as a lawyer, and was elected to the Chamber in 1893. He lias held office in many Ministries, and was premier for six months ending June, 1914, and later President ,of the Senate. He is described as a ane speaker, confident, polished, and well-informed. He is much respected, and knows England well. He has been most friendly to England for a long time, and in prewar yeara advocated . the • yclose"st Franco-British collaboration. Tho prospect, therefore, of M, Herriot and Mr, MacDonaid reaching a oomplete understanding on pending questions atthe forthcoming meeting appears to be ' most favourable.

ELECTION ACCLAIMED.

SETBACK TO LEFT BLOC.

tBEOTES'fI TBLBOBiMB.) (Revived June l«th, 12.33 «um.) . PARIS, June *5. The elite of Parisian society watched the voting from the galleries. The whole Assembly burst into loud cheers wflen die result was announced, the Communists shouting: "Vive la Commune." The demonstration lasted several minutes, the Centre singing "La Marseillaise" and, the Sofrialistß and Communists singing the, "Internationale." The'* Premier, M,, Marsal;, immediately afterwards formally invested Jvl* Doumergue witji the badge of office. Congratulations followed. M. Famleve was among the first to felicitate him M/Pe.mleve' and'M. Doumergue cordially kissed each other on boui cheeks, to the' delight' of 'the; spectators. Tho 'military' rendered honours," find the crowd < cheered' as M. Poumergite, aocomnnnied by Mi Marsal. left for the Elysee.i where M. Millerand meanwhile quietly 1 departed. it. Bouniergue immediately summoned M. Herriot., , , , t s , • • In a Speech at the ceremony of in- j veEtiture, M. Doumergue declared that, Ue Wo,uld respect ,the Constitution' as standing abovo parties. He trusted the President and -Parliament collaborate to solve grave probtenuS,' - and enablo France to enter on an era of useful work and peaceful progress.', , M. Doumergue, who is aged feisty-* one, is a Southerner, He is the first Protestant or bachelor President.'' He was at one time a member o£ the colonial magistracy, holding posts in Indo-Cbina and Algeria. His election' is regarded as a severe blow" to '. the Left 'Bloc, the entire Opposition in the Chainbor, and • the whole including tho Radicals, voting for him. M. HERRIOTS CABINET.; '

SHORT 1 AND STORMY LIFE . PREDICTED, x . i (aiCUTER'a TELEOEAKB.) I, (Received Juno 16th, 12.10 Vm.) , PARIS, Jpe 14. M. ilarsal tendered the Cabinet's resignation and M. Herriot formed a 1 C oinet. It is announced that he hopes to go to London nest week-end. Tbo Cabinet is as follows: Premier and Minister of Foreign Afiairs— M. HerrTot. / .Minister of Justice—M. Renoult.' Minister of War—General 'Nollet. Minister of the Navy—M. DumiV ml. - * Minister of'the Interior—M. Chau*-

temps. . ' i Minister of Finance^—M. Clemen|el. , T'lnister of Education—M. 'Francois \lbert. \ - , jJlinister of Public Works—M. Pevtial. " \ iT.nistcr of Rau* naldy. J Minister <of Labour—3l. JfustinGodart. - ■> Jlinister of ' Agriculture—M. Qaeullle. Minister of Colonies—M. Daladier. Minister for Pensions—M. Bovier la Pierre, . Minister of Liberated Regions— M. Dalbiez.

The Cabinet is composed entirely of Republican Socialists and Radical Socialists, as the Socialists refused to take office in the present circumstances. It is characterised by a dearth of stoking personalities, though the exceptions, besides M. Harriot, aro M. Olementei, who liad already held tho" portfolios or Finance and Commerce with distiudtion, and M. Nollot, hitherto President of the Inter-Allied Military Control Mission to Germany. ; .. Pontical prophet* predict that the new Cabinet's tenure of office wdl be short and stormy. It is noteworthy that jx. Herriot is at the mercy of the Socialists, who constitute one-third of the Left majority of 300, or 320 with the Communists, which is faced: with a compact Opposition of 2GO.