M. CASIMIR-PERIER.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2411, 17 January 1895, Page 2

M. CASIMIR-PERIER.

HE RESIGNS THE PRESIDENCY OP PRANCE. A CRISIS IN THE STATE. AN EVENTFUL MESSAGE TO PARLIAMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Association, — Copyright. Received January 16,8.15 p.rn. Paris, January 15. M. Casimir-Perier, President of the French Eepublic, has resigned. Received January 17, 0.50 a.m. Paris, January 16. M. Casimir-Perier’s resignation of the ■Presidency came unexpectedly, and created great political perplexity and dismay. The attempt of the Chamber of Deputies to override the judicial .decisions of the Council of State regarding the railway companies indicated an intention to assume powers which the President refused to countenance. The English press is inclined to regard the resignation of the President as precipitated, and that it indicates a lack of moral courage. HIS REASON FOR RESIGNING. M. Casimer - Perier’s message’ to the Chamber of Deputies on the subject declares that he regards the vote of the Chamber, in censuring the Ministry on the ground that they failed to protect the State against the aggression of the railway companies, as a secondary incident; but, he says, a struggle has begun against the Parliamentary regime and the public. liberties, and he had hoped tho President would have been exempted from attack, or, on the other hand, defended. Ho begged the members of the Cabinet to provisionally withdraw their resignations, and this request lias been acceded to. M. Dupuy, the Premier, and M. Chal-lemel-Lacour, President of the Senate, repeatedly, though without success, appealed to the President to reconsider his decision, and o\*oll went as far -as to ask his mother to intervene. ’ ' It is believed that the retiring President will be re-elected by a .largemajority. The names of M. Brisson, President of the Chamber, and M. Challemel-Lacour are mentioned as possible candidates for tho ; -office. M. Casimir-Perier was elected President on the murder of M. Carnot in June last year. The President of Prance is elected by the united vote of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies. The Council of State, mentioned in the telegram, was introduced by Napoleon 1., and has been maintained since. It is presided over by the Minister of Justice, and is composed of Councillors, Masters of Requests and Auditors, all appointed by the President of- the Republic. Its duty is to give opinion upon such questions, chiefly those connected with administration, as are submitted to it by ' the Government.