FRANCE AND GERMANY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 11, 14 January 1932, Page 11

FRANCE AND GERMANY

LAVAL CABINET FALLS

REFUSAL OE STJPPOKT

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. PARIS, 13th January. Failing to form a Goverainicnt of national union, the Premier, M. Laval, and tlie members of. Ms' Cabinet have resigned. Previously all members of Cabinet placed their portfolios at M. Laval's disposal.

When the, resignations were placed in M. Laval's hands for the purpose of reshuffling .the portfolio-holders little thought that their action, in a few hours, would lead to the end of the Ministry.

M. Laval was authorised by the Cabinet to construct a, Government of national union, so that the country might face the Lausanne Conference unitedly. He consulted his opponents, chief of whom is M. Herriot, who, with his following of 125 Badical Socialist Deputies, held the key to the position. He offered M.- Herriot the portfolio of Foreign Affairs, and a fair proportion of other appointments.

M. Herriot consulted his party, by whom the inyitation was declined on the ground, that, its members were not convinced that the foreign situation justified broadening the basis of the Cabinet. Nevertheless, M. Herriot emphasised the fact that he placed national welfare above party interests. In the face of this reverse, M. Laval visited the President and tendered his own and his Ministers' resignations.