FRENCH CABINET.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 20, 20 December 1932, Page 7

FRENCH CABINET.

FOREIGN POLICY. CONTINUITY ENSURED.

LONDON, Dec. 19. The Paris correspondent of The Times says:—“M. Boncour’s' appointment to the Ministry of Foreign Affaire ensures a continuity of M. Herriot’s policy. The most remarkable appointment is that of M. Oheron to the Ministry of Finance, as the Socialists doubtless consider him over-orthodox. He is reputed to he a clever financier. M. Boncour sent Lis affectionate respects to M. Herriot as ‘leader yesterday and to-morrow,’ tho implication being that a settlement of tlie debts question will enable him to return to office.”

TWELVE REAPPOINTMENTS. PARIS, Dec. 19. Twelve of the seventeen new Ministers were members of Al. Herriot’s Government. THE NEW PREMIER. The new Premier of France, Al. Paul Boncour, is a prominent statesman and writer, and by profession is a barrister. He has been described as one of the most attractive figures in French public life. Slight, mobile, dynamic, he has a fine leonine head that gives him the appearance of greater stature than he measures. Since Rene Viviani died, Al. Boncour has become perhaps the most finished orator in France. Ho may not have Al. Briand’s power to lead men, but he pleases them. He may not lead his hearers, but he sways them. Al. Boncour is, in fact, one of tho greatest trial lawyers in Paris, and is believed to be one of the wealthiest men in the French capital, albeit a Socialist. Nearly three years ago he was tho lawyer for King Carol of Roumania, who was then merely a former Crown Prince, contesting a suit brought by Alme. Zizi Lambrino; and the Socialist won a victory for the Prince.

For many years Al. Boncour was the French representative at tho Council of the League of Nations, and it was he who proposed that the armed forces of every nation should be placed at the disposal of the League to put down wars of aggression. He was for a time president of the Preliminary League Conference on disarmament. In the Chamber of Deputies he has been chairman of tlie Foreign Affairs Committee. In 1927 he prepared a Bill which became law, giving France a universal draft in wartime—men, women, children, all to be mobilised for service—and now lie would draft whole armies and navies for the League.