NEW CABINET IN FRANCE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20734, 20 December 1932, Page 11

NEW CABINET IN FRANCE.

M. PAULBONCOUR AS PREMIER. CONTINUITY OF POLICY. CO-OPERATION OF M. HERRIOT. (UXIIED Pit US S ASSOCIATION-EYJ ELECTRIC TtLEGSAI-H— COPYBIGUT.) (Received December 19th, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, December 18. Tho new French Cabinet is as follows : M. Paul-Uoneour, Premier and Foreign Affairs. M. Henry Clieron, Finance. M. Gnrdey, Justice. M. Georges Bonnet, Public Works. M. Camillo Chautemps, Interior. M. Edounrd Dcladier, War. M. Paul Painlcve, Air. M. Georges Leygues, Navy. M. Leon Meyer, Mercantile Alarinc. M. Henri Queuille, Agriculture. M. Miellef, Pensions. M. Auatolc do Motirfe, Education. M. Albert iiarraut, Colonies. M. Albert Dalimier, Labour. M. Danielou, Health. M. J alien Durau, Commerce. M. Laurent Eynac, Post and Telegraphs. Twelve of the 17 new Ministers wero members of M. Herriot's Government. M. Paul-Boncour's appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs ensures the continuity of M. Herriot's policy. The most remarkable appointment 's that of M. Cheron as Minster for Finance, as tho Socialists doubtless consider him over-orthodox. He is ;l reputedly clever financier. M. Paul-Boncour sent affectionate respects to M. Harriot, referring to him as the "Leader of yesterday and to-morrow,'' the implication being that tho settlement of tho debts question will enable him to return to office. Socialist Attitude. An earlier message read: — M. Paul-Boncour conferred for ;| time Tvith the Socialists, and then decided that their conditions for participation in the Cabinet were too farreaching. He is accordingly attempting to form a united Left Ministry. M. Herriot has promised support outside tho Government. It is understood that M. Paul-Boncour believes that tho Chamber's debts decision stands, necessitating the new Ministry immediately negotiating with America. THE NEW PREMIER. LONG POLITICAL CAREER. M. Joseph Paul-Boncour was born in August, IS7H, at St. Aignan, Loir-et-Cher. He practised as an advocate in Paris and engaged in journalism. Entering politics in 1808 as first secretary of the Spanish-American Peace Conference in Paris, lie was private secretary of Waldcck-Rousseau from 1899 to 1902. Then in 190G lie was made head of n section in the Labour Ministry, fleeted to the Chamber for Blois in 1909. he •was Labour Minister ip the Monis Cabinet and occupied himself with the measure for old age pensions—a task in harmony with his enthusiasm for social reform. In 1914 he lost his seat. Joining the army, he fought at the front, rising to the command of a battalion. After the war he was elected to the Chamber for Paris in 1919 and for Tarn in 1924 as a Socialist, and became one of the leaders of the Party, though his Socialism had a strongly nationalist tinge. His first wife was u daughter of Mcnier, tho chocolate manufacturer, and he is very wealthy. Foreign Interests. M. Paul-Boncour occupied himself chiefly with foreign affairs and was a member of the Army and Foreign Affairs Committees of the Chamber. In 1924 he was appointed a delegate to the League of Nations. Since then he has played an importaut part at Geneva, especially in connexion witli the disarmament and security question. He was one of the champions of tiie Geneva Protocol, which was rejected by Britain in 1925. In all discussions on disarmament be urged that it should bo preceded by guarantees of security. In 1927 his Party looked askance at his co-operation with the Poincaro Cabinet as its delegate at Geneva, but he steadily maintained that the Socialists ought to take part in the coalition Government. On his initiative arrangements were made for the League to have the use of aeroplanes to ensuro rapid communication between it and the Governments in case of danger of war. In November, 1927, he was elected president of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber, which he regarded as a maudatc for his Geneva policy. In December he and others attempted to revive the Protocol, holding that British acceptance of it could bo dispeused wit.h for tho present, but that it should he' kept open for signature by other Powers. He had not. however, given any indication of urging France to sign the Protocol, with its elaborate system of military and naval guarantees.

In 1920 on a visit to Poland he made a speech which was resented in Germany, but he explained in Berlin that when lie spoke of Poland's work for security ho was referring to the Polish guards" on tho Russian and not on the German frontier. He is against the unconditional evacuation of the Rhine land by France, though admitting that this is essential to a rapprochement with Germany, but demands a demilitarised zone under tho control of the League.