FRENCH CABINET RESIGNS.

Mataura Ensign, 22 July 1909, Page 3

FRENCH CABINET RESIGNS.

NAVAL MANAGEMENT. Far is, July 21. After several days' discussion on the Navy Commissioners' report the Chamber of Deputies by 212 to 126 passed a vote of no confidence in the Cabinet, who in consequence handed in their resignations, tliese being accepted by President Falliores. M. Picard (Minister for Marine) admitted serious mismanagement in certain departments and promised reorganisation, but urged that tlio critics were ovcr-pessiraistie. M. Delcasse (ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs) follower! with a bitter speech in which he attacked the throo preceding Marino Ministers. Ho taunted M. Clemenceau (Premier) with seeking to evade his responsibility, and said that money which ought to have built several snips had been wasted upon one. Inferior boilers had been ordered instead of Belvollo's. Such a catastrophe as the loss of the Jena might have been averted. M. Clemenceau ridiculed M. Delcasse for presuming to talk of recklessness seeing that ho had lod France into the Algeciras affair, which had boon her greatest humiliation for twenty years. Amid cheers M. Delcasse vigorously dissented.

M. Clemenceau, continuing: You brought us to the gates of war when wo were unprepared. I have not humiliated France as M. Delcasse humiliated her. After tho voting M. Clemenceau and his Ministers quitted tho Chamber. Tho crisis was quite unexpected and was duo to 51. Delcasse's brilliance, M. Clemenceau's violence alienating his supporters.