DICTATORSHIP OR NOT?

Grey River Argus, 20 July 1926, Page 5

DICTATORSHIP OR NOT?

FRENCH PARLIAMENT. Refuse to Give Up Prerogatives. FINANCES IN MELTING POT AGAIN. PARIS, July 18. M. Herriot has agreed to try to form a Cabinet • consequent on AL Briand’s resignation. The Chamber was crowded for the fateful debate in which the Finance Committee submitted its Bill definitely limiting the powers of M. Caillaux. The latter simultaneously submitted his own measure for plenary powers L for the Ministry. | the President of the Chamber, Al. i Harriot (ex-Premier)’ opposed the Go1 veminent, and deblared that if the prerogatives were diminished, he would resign the Presidency of the Chamber. He impassionedly appealed to “ Messiurs Le Government” to co-operate with Parliament, not to suppress it. M. Briand, in a statement, said that Parliament would increase in reputation in the eyes of the country by sacrificing its prerogatives. The Opposition moved to discuss the Finance Committee’s Bill, which Al. Briand announced would be made a question of confidence. THE FATEFUL DEBATE. The debate preceding me defeat was marked by scenes of intense drama. Speakers, representing the widest divergence of views, declared the real issue was whether France should pass from Government by Parliament to Government by Dictatorship. This issue entirely obscured the real issue ot meeting the financial crisis. M. Herriot was cheered by the leaders as far apart as Al. Tardieu and Al. Marin on the Right and Al. Plum on the Left. Af. Briand delivered one of the most stirring speeches of his career. “If Parliament grants the Government the power to act, I say it will increase itt authority and prestige, and by abnegation, will conform with the wishes of a groat majority of the nation, anc contribute to saving the situation.” FAILURE OF CAILLAUX. Al. Alarin, summing up the views of the Opposition, declared: ‘‘We refuse to give you plenary powers, because il would be dangerous, and despoil Par

Lament. ” He concluded by pointing to M. Caillaux: “I add that if it were necessary to confer exceptional powers on any man, it would not be you. 1 will not recall your past, but it is one which has advantages.” Then came the division, when, amid cheers, there were heard cries, ‘‘This means the franc at three hundred to the pound.” The Ministers, headed by Al. Briand, filed out silently. Af. Caillaux, who was recently hailed as the “saviour of France,” saw himself for a second time refused the chance of applying his plans. The would-be dictator professed the utmost satisfaction. “There is no K luck more fortunate than mine,” said X. Af. Caillaux, who was first to leave the F.lysee, after the Ministry placed the resignations in the hands of President Doumerge. After the vote on the Bill, Af. Briand announced his intention to resign. Later, Af. Doumerge accepted the Government’s resignation. Ho is likely to summon Af. Herriot, who leads the largest party in the Chamber. Military Dictatorship. A NEAR, POSSIBILITY. DONOHOE’S OPINION. (Received July 19 at 5.5 p.ni.) LONDON, July 19. Mr Martin Donohoe, the Special Correspondent of the London “Daily

Chronicle,” says:— •■Writing in possession of important information, I can say that the Trench Republic to-night is nearer to ,a Military Dictatorship than it has been for fifty-flvo years. .As Parliamentary government has now completely failed, the road is open for a French Mussolini backed by the Army! ’ ’ LONDON SURPRISE. FEAR OF CONSEQUENCES. LONDON, July 19. News of the French Government ■■ downfall was received with surprise, ir London political and financial circles The “Sunday Times’s” Paris cor respondent says: “M. Brian.!, in hi: speech, said that if action were not taken in eight days, France would l>. plunged into a financial catastrophe.’ The “Daily Herald's” Paris . corres pondent comments on the failure of M Caillaux’s ruse to divide the Oppositioi with the threat of a capital levy. Wliei the division was taken, 195 Socialists Communists, and Radicals were joinei by 6G Republicans and 27 Independent from the Right. When the Govern rnent was ousted only the Communist cheered. The others were anxious!

silent. CRISIS MORE SERIOUS. DISSOLUTION POSSIBLE. (Received July 19 at 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, July 19. The French political crisis is a most serious one. M Herriot will continue his negotiations to form a Cabinet till Monday. ~ He hopes to form a purely “Left” Government. M. Matin, the Lender of the Moderate Right refuses to serve m any Iler, riot combination. The only means by which, M. Her riot can win over the extreme Social ists is to introduce a capital levy. If a capital levy is introduced, th. Senate will certainly reject it. Consequently a dissolution may y< be essential to :i settlement. W HY WERE THEY~ ASSEMBLING PARIS, July 18. There is renewed talk of a grea financial conference regarding Eur<

pean, and especially French finance. In this connection, the Press attaches significance to the arrival in Paris today, of Sir Montagu Norman, Governor of the Bank of England, and Air Strong, Governor of the Federal Reserve Bank United States, who have been holidaying. Also it is noted that Air Mellon and Air Pierpont Morgan are coming to Europe from America.

FOREIGN BANKERS ON THE SCENE. dissolution’ URGED. TROUBLE FEARED. LONDON, July 18. Some Parisian correspondents fear i trouble, both in the city and provinces, i over Al. Briand’s defeat. It is signi- . ficant that a section of the crowd • hissed Herriot outside the Elysee, > while an angry mob had to be disperst ed outside the Chamber of Deputies. “Le Journal” demands that the ’ Chamber “shall end this ganu* of mas- - sacre, which has lasted overwong. ” La Volontc urges a dissolution and i warns the President that if he is deaf i to the clamour of all classes, he may , find the storm beating down even on I the doors of the Elysee. 3 DEFEAT DUE TO FRENCH FEARS.

OF FOREIGN FINANCIAL DOMINATION. LONDON, July 19. France, by AL Briand’s resignation, escapes a virtual dictatorship at the cost of the whole finances being again in the melting pot. A fear that France would be placed at the mercy of foreign banks, with the Chamber helplessly gagged, was mainly responsible for the Government’s downfall. The majority of deputies opposed the raising of credits abroad and also the Washington, if not the London Agreement. Many Deputies jibbed, especially at the idea of entrusting Al. Caillaux with dictatorial powers. In the course of debate, the Opposition quoted extracts from “The Rubicon Treatise,” in favour of a dictatorship. The treatise was discovered during war time in a safe in Florence, the authorship of which is attributed to Al. Caillaux. Feeling in French political circles is that an attempt will be made to form a Cabinet of a National Union, cm-, bracing Al. Poincare and Al. Herriot.