FRANCE'S NEW CRISIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18709, 15 May 1924, Page 7

FRANCE'S NEW CRISIS.

GOVERNMENT DEFEAT.

FOINCARE WILL RESIGN.

LONDON VISIT CANCELLED.

COMMENT ON ELECTIONS.

COMMUNISTS' DEMANDS.

B> Telegraph Association —Copyright. (Received 5.5 p.m.) Reuter. PARIS. May 13. M. Poincare, the Premier of France, will resign on June 1, when Parliament will assemble. It is understood that he has decided not to go to London for the proposed conference with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald. The French newspapers generally consider that, while the swing to the Left resulting from the elections may have some influence on domestic policy, it is extremely probable that it will also affect foreign policy. They contrast the success of the Socialists with the small gains of the Communists. The papers express the opinion that the main issue of the election was the high cost of living and the new taxation

Le Journal recalls that many members of the Left Party declared themselves to be partisans of Poincare's foreign policy. Le Matin thinks that M. Poincare could find a majority, but that the more normal of the victorious parties should • assume office. . M. Tardieu, who himself was beaten, writing in the Echo National, blames th& Moderates for their own defeat. He says that they did not fight hard enough. Obligations of Germany. The Communist paper Humanite declares that disillusion will rapidly follow the advent of the Radical-Socialist, M. Herriot, and the Socialist, M. Renaudel. Communists, it declares, will immediately demand full amnesty and evacuation of the Ruhr, recognition of. the Soviet, and the abolition of taxation schemes. The Radical paper Era Nouvelle says that the election shows France's desire for peace. The Chamber is certainly inclined toward conciliation, - it adds, but this must find a counterpart in Germany. The paper urges the necessity of Germany rapidly fulfilling the reparation experts' recommendations.

M. Painleve, the ex-Premier, a Radical Socialist, explained in an interview the attitude of the Left Bloc. He laid stress on France's desire for peace, based on the principle of reparation. Bad faith on the part of Germany would, he said, have for her the most disastrous consequences.

Europe could only enjoy a peaceful future if goodwill and. conciliation on the part of France were met by goodwill and the continued execution of her obligations on the part of Germany. The Next French Premier. M. Herriot, who is mentioned as a probable successor to M. Poincare in the Premiership of France, is a distinguished educationist and pioneer of local government. He .is known as the . "King of Mayors" on account of his success for many years as Mayor of Lyons. He was Minister for Transport during the war, and shares with M. Loucheur the reputation of being one of thd first £ economic authorities of France. He organised the Lyons Fair, and has been identified with attempts to restore' Franco-Russian commercial relations. In that connection he went on a mission to Moscow two years ago. He is credited with pro-English leanings. '':■•■. V.\. '''';-~.

It is semi-officially stated that the reparation experts' plan will probably remain the basis of the French reparation policy, and even if M. Poincare ceases to direct the public affairs, his successor .', is unlikely to abandon altogether the policy of the , present Premier.

A meeting between* Mr. Mac Donald and the new French ; Premier is regarded as certain. This will necessarily be delayed, however, to give the successor of M. Poincare time to look round. ■?;■ ':%.'-, ~ I .;, .

VARIOUS PRESS VIEWS. FOREIGN POLICY FACTOR. EUROPEAN . PEACE BASIS. (Received 5.5 p.m.) ", ■A. and N.Z.-Times. ■ LONDON. May 13. The Times says the growing cost of living, the steady increase of taxation, arid the burden of accumulating anxieties which the average French man and woman were bearing, were strong arguments in favour of a change of Government in France. • ■ M. Poincare for two years had concentrated his energies on foreign affairs, displaying little interest in the troubles of the araage 1 citizen and, ignoring the smaller arts of politics. -^ The Times adds that it presumes there will be no great and .'■' sudden divergence from M. Poincare's foreign policy. All parties except the Communists have either tacitly or openly expressed approval of the Ruhr, policy. - -V" . \ . The paper asserts that the British Government is certainly prepared to enter on close friendship with any French Government for the purpose of establishing a solid basis for European peace. ;. ;

The Daily Mail says that M. Poincare was defeated just when his policy seemed to be on the verge of achieving success. France had now swung to the Radical Socialist side. /--■ There was an overwhelming desire for >peace even at the price of great sacrifices. M. Poincare's reverse was probably due to the new taxation, which he had the courage and patriotism to impose as being the only means of preventing the steady fall of the franc. The fear that the new Government may not take the same strong financial line was responsible for the heavy slump of the franc, says the paper. German militarists would" regard the result of the elections as an encouragement, and would do their utmost to overthrow the experts' reparation scheme. France's great need was a strong Government co-operating closely with Britain to preserve peace and prevent the Germans from evading their \ obligations. There was every reason to believe that MM. Briand and Painleve, in succeeding to power, would be equally resolute in ■. maintaining France's safety. v A message from Berlin states that the German press is cautious in its comment on M. Poincare's defeat. The Tageblatt rejoices over the downfall of a statesman "who fought Germany two years with nigger-like hate and implacability." The Vorwaerts advises the German workers not to imagine the new French. Government will evacuate the Ruhr. r ■'■■ • t