FRENCH CRISIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23010, 11 April 1938, Page 11

FRENCH CRISIS

BLUM RESIGNS SENATE'S HOSTILITY FINANCE BILL'S FATE FORMING NEW CABINET M. DALAI)]EE'S TASK By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright PARIS, April 8 M. Blum's Government resigned after the Senate had refused even to discuss the Finance Bill. It threw the bill out by 223 votes to 49. The President, M. Lebrun, has entrusted the formation of a Ministry to M. Daladier, who agreed to undertake the task. He says it will not be one of national union but a stop-gap Ministry. M. Daladier faces a most difficult task.

Bitter scenes in the Senate marked the end of M. Blum's regime, and the future appears by no means happy. The members showed no mercy during M. Blum's two-hour appeal not to reject the bill, some of them flingiric angry words across the Chamber. Further Outburst M. Blum said he realised that his Government was doomed, but its defeat would mean fresh troubles because the workers were thoroughly conscious of their rights and resented the Senate overriding the popular Chamber. He said the Popular Front was more solid than the Senate realised. This produced a thunderous outburst, in the midst of which the president of the Chamber, M. Jeanneny, jumped up quivering with emotion and told M. Blum that the Senate reserved freedom of action and would decide as it thought necessary, after which M. Blum could draw his own conclusions. The loudest and longest ovation in living memory followed M. Blum as he left the Tribune. During.the voting on the bill, voices from the Deputies' Gallery shouted: "Shoot Caillaux." The Senators replied angrily, "We know how to defend ourselves." Doubts Expressed Serious doubts are expressed as to whether M. Daladier will be able to succeed where M. Blum failed, especially as the workers, who bitterly oppose him, resent the manner of M. Blum's defeat. Indications point to renewed and more violent industrial strife, because of the failure to form a National Ministry, which is considered the only thing which could have avoided a continuance of the country's nervousness, and induce the workers to give up wrangling with their employers and co-operate in their efforts to produce national unity.

BRITAIN'S CONCERN FALL OF GOVERNMENT AN AWKWARD MOMENT LABOUR TROUBLE FEARED LONDON, April 8 The Australian Associated Press says Britain is watching the French situation closely. The Government's fall could not have occurred at a more awkward moment as far as the international. situation is concerned, being on the eve of the Austrian plebiscite. French provincial opinion, which is strongly influential, definitely supports the Popular Front, and in the event of any leader of the Right forming a Government, the possibility of grave disturbances throughout France cannot be overlooked.