A SERIOUS CRISIS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 15 June 1914, Page 5

A SERIOUS CRISIS.

' PARTIES AND THE PRESIDENT. ."WHAT WILL RUSSIA SAY?" PARIS, June 14. The crisis is considered the most serious in the history of the Republic, marking open conflict between M. Poincare. and the majority of the Republicans and Socialists. There is also increasing divergence between the Senate and the Chamber. When M. Ribot began to explain his policy, the Radicals and Socialists maintained an almost continuous chorus of interruption, and the speech was heard in snatches. After three hours' tumult, a motion of want of confidence was carried. There were demonstrations on the boulevards, and shouts of "Down with the triennium!" mingled with "Vive l'Armee! Vive Poincare !" ' The police cleared the streets. M. Poincare accepted M. Ribot's resignation ,and will probably re-summon M. Viviani. The Budget for the present year has not been voted, and the exchequer is nearly empty. There was an initial deficit of twenty-four millions, and nothing has been done to provide the thirty-eight millions sterling needed to pay for the recent army increase.

The question of "What will Russia say?" is much canvassed, as three years' service is France's pledge to

Russia