CABINET RESIGNS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 96, 21 March 1940, Page 7

CABINET RESIGNS

ACTION IN FRANCE. RECONSTRUCTION EFFORT. M. REYNAUD’S TASK. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.; LONDON, March 20. The French Government) has resigned. The Cabinet went this morning to M. Lebrun, the President, To present its resignation, which was accepted. The Premier (M. Daladicr) was_ accompanied by the members el his Cabinet when he went to the Palaitf d’Elysee. The Minister of Posts and Telegraphs (M. Juies Julicn), who is at present in London, was tlm only Minister who did not go to the Elysee. The Chamber of Deputies passed a vote of confidence in the Premier (M. Daladicr) by 239 votes to ohe. There were 300 abstentions. 'liic Chamber resumed publicly at 3.30 a.m. after five hours in secret session. A Radical-Socialist motion was tabled expressing confidence in the Government’s capacity to carry on the war to a successful issue. Cabinet reconstruction had been expected for some time. (From Davcntry.) M. Poynaud, the Finance Minister in the Daladicr Cabinet, lias been invited to lorm a Cabinet, M. Daladicr having declined the President’s invitation to do so. He coni erred yesterday with M. Mandel (Colonial Minister m the last Government) and M. Lamaureux, who was Finance Minister in 1933. M. Reynaud expected to bo able to announce his Cabinet to-day.. No unsettling eiiect on the Paris Bourse lias resulted from the reconstruction. 'The intention of M. Reynaud to pursue the same stern _ war policy as M. Daladicr gives the lie. to recent German statements alleging political unrest in France.

TRIAL OF COMMUNISTS. FORMER DEPUTIES CHARGED. COMPREHENSIVE PURGE. Received March 21. 11.35 a.m. PARIS, March 20. The trial has opened of 44 Communist ex-Deputies who are charged with illegally attempting to reorganise the Communist Party. Nine of them, who have either fled from France or arc in hiding, will later be tried for high treason. Six soldiers with fixed bayonets guarded the dais on which sat seven uniformed Judges and seven assistants. The trial is proceeding. M. Sarraut, in the Senate, revealed the completeness of the anti-Cominunist drive. He said more than 3400 Communist leaders had been arrested and 277 S holding official positions had been dismissed. Two papers and 159 publications had been suppressed, 620 unions and 675 political groups had been dissolved, 8000 search warrants had been issued, and 800 penalties ordered. He added that German ’planes had been dropping Communistic propaganda over France, and Communistic broadcasters were sending out German propaganda.