EMPTY TREASURY

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 5 December 1925, Page 5

EMPTY TREASURY

DRAMATIC STATEMENT.

FRENCH FINANCIAL PROBLEM.

APPEAL TO THE CHAMBER.

BY CAB»E—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYBIGHT. PARIS, Dec. 3. While the Chamber was still hostile to the inflation proposals of M. Louclieur (Minister for Finance), the Prime Minister (M. Briand) in a dramatic hush said: “The treasury is empty. Have you confidence in my Government to fill it to enable France to keep her 'word to thousands of citizens? This is not the time to play. Think of France. If you overthrow me it will lie a crime against France.” It was a decisive appeal, after which the Chamber voted the clauses with surprising rapidity. When the inflation vote was taken, jVI. Herriot, breaking the long tradition, left the Speaker’s chair and voted with the Government.

It is pointed out that though M. Briand had a majority of twenty-eight for the final passing of the Finance Bill, seventy deputies abstained from voting. It is further pointed out that the Communists, in combination with casual rebels, could easily reverse the position when a vote of confidence is again sought. Financial circles view with misgiving M. Loucheur’s determination to enforce the payment of new taxes by the middle of January, because it will force the redemption of short term bonds, thereby leading to further inflation.