THE CRISIS IN FRANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14924, 23 February 1912, Page 4

THE CRISIS IN FRANCE.

DRAMATIC SCENES. THIRD MINISTRY IN TWELVE MONTHS. [FROM OUR, OWN COBRESFONDEN-r.] Loxdok, January 12. The Moroccan aftermath is producing unpleasant consequences in Europe. The elections in Germany showed clearly a deep, underlying bitterness against this country. In France, the Ministerial crisis arrived this week, while in England the political outlook is gloomy. Homo Rule, Welsh dis-establishment, and the possibility of adult suffrage are quite sufficient in themselves to tax the resources of the Government, but already there are signs of serious discontent with the foreign policy of Sir Edward Grey. Tho Daily News concluded its leading article on Wednesday with reference to Persia and Mongolia, with the following passage:—" Tho key to Sir Edward Greg's policv is the fatal antagonism to Germany. There, and there alone, is the root of our humiliation and our impotence. The time has come to state with a clearness which cannot be mistaken that Sir Edward Grey, as Foreign Secretary, is impossible," Tho Daily News represents a powerful section of Ministerial supporters, and the attack on Sir E. Grey is significant. For months past there has been an undercurrent of dissatisfaction in the Liberal press with the Government's foreign policy, and matters are coming to a head. The Government has sufficient domestic entanglements to avoid during the coming year without quarrelling over foreign affairs. Causes of the French Crisis. The French crisis is briefly this: SI. de Selves, the Foreign Minister, resigned as the result of a dramatic incident, which took place between himself, M. Caillaux (the Prime Minister), and SI. Clemenceau (the ex-Premier), at the sitting of the Senate Commission examining the FrancoGerman agreement. SI. Caillaux endeavoured to reform his Cabinet by transferring Sl'. Delcasse from the Ministry for Marino to his former post of Foreign Secretary. Difficulties intervened, and the Premier-re-signed. This is the third Ministry of the Republic to fall within 12 months, as follows:— Briand's, on February 27, 1911; M. Slonis's, on June 25; and M. Caillaux, on January 10. The point for Great Britain to remember is that, while apparently England was prepared to fight Germany for the sake of France in Morocco, the French Cabinet was divided, and the Premier was engaged in secret negotiations with Germany. The Foreign Minister spoke first, explaining tho attitude taken by tho French Government toward Spain as to the occupation of Laraiche and Alcazar, and then describing in detail the Franco-German negotiations from the despatch of the Panther to Agadir to the signature of the Franco-German treaty on November 4 last. But tho interest of the Commission in tho events leading up to the Agadir coup became intense when M. Pichon, ex-Slinis-ter for Foreign Affairs, put several questions regarding the dropping of the FrancoGerman trading project, known as the N'Goko Sangha, -id regarding the negotiations concerning the Congo-Kamerun railway. At SI. Pichon's request; SI. Caillaux made a statement regarding these negotiations, which he, when Finance Minister in the last Moms Cabinet, is alleged to have carried on by means of unofficial emissaries without the'knowledge of the Premier, SI. Mollis, or the Cabinet as a whole. Resignation of M. de Selves. " Since this question of negotiations, carried on outside of the official foreign affairs of the Government, has been raised," M. Caillaux said, "I take this opportunity of giving you my word of honour that no political or financial dealings took place outside tho official diplomatic negotiations." This was received in dead silence. Then M. Clemenceau rose up, grim and insistent. Tho Commission listened expectantly. "Was M. Jules Cambon, the French Ambassador, kept informed," he asked, turning to M. do Selves, "of all the negotiations between Paris and Berlin?" SI. de Selves, deadly palo and labouring under a strong emotion, remained silent. The "Tiger," as M. Clemenceau is called, insisted upon an answer. '"I cannot reply to this question," tho Foreign Minister, said. '• You can," retorted M. • Clemenceau. " give this negative answer to anyone but me." M. de Selves, speakling slowly, amid a profound silence, said: " In the presence of the dual necessity of the truth an] of the interests of the country, I can say nothing on this subject." M. Clemenceau declared, " Your reply cannot satisfy the members of the Commission it does not satisfy me. You told mo the contrary." Extraordinary tumult greeted this extraordinary accusation, and in the midst of the turmoil the Ministers left the room in a body. In half an hour's time they returned, and SI. Caillaux announced that the Foreign Minister had resigned. M. Delcasse as Foreign Secretary. M. Caillaux tried hard to keep his Cabinet together by making SI. Delcasse his Foreign Minister, and the appointment was notified The news created an extraordinary sensation in Berlin, where the newspapers devoted more space to the French crisis than to their own elections. It is just six years ago that M. Delcasse resigned Ins portfolio as Foreign Minister. The story goes that M. Delcasse was negotiating an offensive and defensive alliance with Great Britain, and the Kaiser doclared that the day the alliance was ratified a German army would mobilise in Lorraine. There was the usual crisis in France, and SI. Delcasse retired. The extreme nationalists in Germany regard with suspicion M. Delcasse, together with the late King Edward, as having plotted the humiliation and isolation of Germany.