M. BRIAND RESIGN

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1064, 1 March 1911, Page 5

M. BRIAND RESIGN

AN APPEAL DISTORTED. GROWING HOSTILITY BLOCKS HIS REFORMS. GERMANY AND THE CRISIS. By Telcerapii-PreEs Aseociation-Copyrlent. (Kce. March ], 0.25 a.m.) Paris, February 28. ■Ilio Prime Minister, M. Briand, has resigned office. -M. Brinnd, in a. letter to the President, M. Fallicres, concerning his resignation, emphasised the growing mistrust and hostility shown towards himself as Premier. His appeal for unity on the basis of the appeasement of discontent and tolerant and reasonable work in the secularisation of the schools,' had been misunderstood in sonic quarters, and distorted in others. This prevented the realisation, except at the hands of another Premier, of the most comprehensive and the boldest programme of political, fiscal, and social reform ever submitted to Parliament.

THE DELCASSE RUMOURS. ANNOYANCE IN BERLIN. Berlin, February 27. "he newspapers sharply criticise the prospective appointment as French Premier of M. Delcasse. Tho journal "Der Reichsbote" says it is surprising that a little dwarf like M. Delcasse should have seized the opportunity to pop up again at England's command. Tho Conservative paper the "Post" declares that M. Delcasse's policy would increase France's warlike tendencies, and adds that Germany must take timely precautions. A SOCIALIST PRIME MINISTER, pi*', Ar^ ic ! 0 Briand, the retiring French Pnmo Minister, was a noted Socialist orator in his early days. When a vounc barrister he proclaimed his belief in Socialism; when, ho became a deputy ho was a Socialist still. He- became Minister lor Public Instruction, then Minister for tme Arts, then Minister for Justice, and he remained a Socialist. When he succeeded M. Clemenceau he introduced himself to the Chamber of Deputies as the first "Socialist Prime Minister of modern times." That was a year aeo &incu then M. Briand has gradually but surely tended towards a conservatism which is enterprising, direct, broadminded, and unmistakably stamped with the hall-mark of common sense. Tho French Prime Minister is now 48. Eight years ago he was unknown except to a few friends, lawyers, and politicians, and to M. Clemenceau himself, who believed in M. Briarid's ability and in his future. Born at Nantes, he studied at the college there. Later -ho came to Paris to become a barrister. He had no fortune, mingled with tho poorest students, and attended Labour meetings. Ho was born oloqqqqqqqqqqqqq was born eloquent, and has made the most of his gift.

In 1302 ho was elected deputy for Saint Eticune. Seven years later he" had risen to be the chief personality in the Government. It wc.s tho drafting and his management in Parliament of the famous Separation Act—tho divorce between Church and State—which stamped him out by general consent as a great statesman.

Tho French railway strike of last year led to a weakening in the Prime Minis- . ter's following. The strike was unpopular in Paris, , "as unpopular' hs , anything that causes general loss nnd inconvenience can be. The man who suppressed tho strike by imprisoning tho leaders and bj- calling out the army and' turning them to do the work was the Primp Minister—M. Brin.ud. "Six days ago," wrote the "Daily News" correspondent on Octobsr 31, "Jl. Briand was the hero of Paris. He was hailed as tho strong man for whom Frar.co pined. • And on Saturday night this same man, this former Socialist, left the Chamber amid howls of execration, protected, as it were, by a bodyguard of nobles of tho Right. Six days ago he fulcd France, to-day lie is 'almost iinnossiblo sis !\ Minister. And tho man who "has made this change is Jean Jaures, and he made it under our eyes in the Chamber of Deputies."