M. DOUMERGUE PREMIER

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21085, 9 February 1934, Page 9

M. DOUMERGUE PREMIER

M. Daladier Resigns CABINET OF FORMER PRIME MINISTERS (united press association—bi electhic TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT.) (Received February 8, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, February 7. M. Edouard Daladier, Premier, announced to-day that the Government was resigning to avoid bloodshed. M. Gaston Doumergue, radi-cal-socialist, has agreed to form a Cabinet. M. Daladier's resignation followed the utmost pressure from many quarters, deputies declaring that otherwise there would be a deathroll of 100 to-night. At a largely-attended meeting of the Right groups, MM. Andre Tardieu and Pierre Laval being present, it was decided to ask the presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies to urge the Government's resignation and allow the formation of a National Government.

M. Daladier, in a statement, said: "The Government is responsible for order, but refuses to assure order to-day by exceptional measures, which might involve bloody suppression. The Government does not wish to employ soldiers against the demonstrators, consequently it has resigned." M. Daladier' is supposed to have said, when resigning, "Power is not worth such a sacrifice. I will not have young soldiers firing on crowds."

Public Approval The news that M. Doumergue, the so-called smiling President, had agreed to form a Cabinet consisting of former Premiers to tide France over the crisis was well received. It is hinted that the new Cabinet may rule without Parliament, which possibly will be immediately dissolved.

Stocks and shares rose after the news of M. Daladier's resignation, and they rose again when it was learned that M. Doumergue had accepted the Premiership, because he is generally regarded as the only man capable of preventing a revolution.

Meanwhile, the gravity of the situation has increased by the Federation of Labour's decision to declare a 24-hour strike on February 12 against the menace of Fascism and in defence of public liberty. Some politicians are troubled by M. Doumergue's acceptance of office and by the President's promise that there will be a general election v/ithin six months. Before leaving Tournefeuille for Paris, JVf. Doumergue said his acceptance of the Premiership was the result of an assurance that MM. Herriot, Laval, Tardieu, and others desired a Cabinet of national union, and were willing to agree to a political truce. The chamber must show the same desire. ENTHUSIASM FOR NEW PREMIER GREAT PUBLIC CONFIDENCE (Received February 9, 1.45 a.m.) PARIS, February 8. > A huge crowd greeted M. Doumergue with enthusiastic cheers at the railway station. The newspapers, except "Le Populare," unanimously accept his entry to power as the sole means of reI storing peace. "Excelsior" says he is the sort of man to end the fratricidal strife. "Le Journal" says no man since M. Clemenceau has had the support of so much sympathy and confidence. DEMAND FOR RESIGNATION OF M. DALADIER EXCITEMENT ON BOURSE PARIS, February 7. Employees on the Bourse stopped work at 1.45 p.m., and shouted uninterruptedly for a quarter of an hour, "Send Daladier to the gallows," "Murderer." Vast crowds in the Place de la Bourse joined in. The police looked on, smiling. Suddenly, in giant letters, an illuminated sign flashed out, DaJadier Resigns." This was received with thunderous cheers, after which the Bourse resumed work. ACTION AGAINST NEWSPAPER | ROYALIST DECLARATION I PARIS, February 7. The Government has ordered the confiscation of the Royalist newspaper "L'Action Francaise" for an editorial in which M. Leon Daudet, one of the editors, said; "At the decisive hour we will be happy to shed our blood, if necessary, for your deliverance and the salvation of the nation, and wipe out this regime which they call a Republic for the restoration of a king, who alone can free you." . ; The authorities, after deciding not; to arrest M. Charles Maurras, an- j other of the editors of "L'Action Francaise," and M. Ditte, editorial writer of "L'Ami du Peuple," visited the house of M. Daudet, who slammed the door in their faces when he learned that they had no warrant for his arreSt.