FRENCH POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19199, 16 June 1924, Page 7

FRENCH POLITICS

M. HERRIOT’S ATTITUDE. A REPORT CONTRADICTED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, PARIS, June 13. M. Doumerguc obtained 515 votes for the Presidency, and M. Painleve 309. Tho report that M. Herriot would not accept the Premiership from a President elected with votes from the Right is disposed of by an announcement by the friends of M. Herriot that whoever was elected President M. Herriot would answer the call if he were invited to form a Cabinet. —A. and N.Z. Cable. M. DOUMERGUE’S ELECTION. OUTLINE OF HIS CAREER. A FRIEND OF ENGLAND. PARIS, June 13. M. Doumergue, though a Radical Socialist, largely owes his election to the fact that the Centre and Right Parties voted for him in order to defeat the official candidate of the Left Parties, M. Painleve. whom the Moderates considered more a party man .than M. Doumergue. The new President began life as a lawyer, and was elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1893. He held office in many Ministries, and was Premier for the three months ending in June, 1914. Soon after he -was President of the Senate. He is described as a fine speaker, confident, polished, well informed, and much respected. He knows England well, and is most friendly towards her. Long before the war he advocated the closest Franco-British collaboration. The prospect, therefore, of M. Herriot and Mr MacDonald reaching a complete understanding on pending’ questions at the forthcoming meeting appears most favourable.—Reuter. NEW CABINET ANNOUNCED. SHORT AND STORMY TERM PREDICTED. Prose Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. PARIS, June 14. (Received June 16, at 12.10 a.m.) M. Marsal has tendered the Cabinet’s resignation and M. Herriot has formed a Cabinet. He announced that he hopes to go to Lon don next week-end. The Cabinet is as follows: Premier and Minister of foreign Affairs, M. Herriot. Minister of Justice, M. Renoult. Minister of War, General Nollet. Naval Minister, M. Dumesnii. Minister of the Interior, M. Chautemps. Minister of Finance, M. Clementel. Minister of Education, M. Francois Albert. Minister of Public Works, M. Peytral. Minister of Commerce, M. Raunaldy. Minister of Labour, M. Justin Godart. Minister of Agriculture, M. Queuille. Minister for tho Colonies, M. Daladie. Minister of Pensions, ML Bovier Lapierre. Minister foe Liberated Regions, M. Dalbiez. Tho Cabinet is composed entirely of Republican Socialists. Radical Socialists as Socialists refused to take office in the present circumstances. It is characterised oy a dearth of striking personalities, though the exceptions besides M. Herriot are M. Clementel, who had already held the portfolios of Finance and Commerce with distinction, and M.- Nollet, hitherto president of the Inter-Allied Military Control Mission to Gennany. Political prophets predict that the new Cabinet’s tenure of office will be short and stormy. It is noteworthy that M. Herriot is at the mercy of the Socialists, ■who constitute one third of the lyeft majority of 300, or 320 with the Communists, which are faced with a compact Opposition of 260.—Reuter. SCENES OF EXCITEMENT. SEVERE BLOW TO LEFT BLOC. PARIS, June 15. (Received June 16, at 12.35 a.m.} The elite of Parisian society watched the voting from the galleries. The whole Assembly burst into loud cheers when the result was announced, the Communists shouting "Vive la Commune.” The demonstration lasted several minutes, the Centre singing the "Marseillaise,” and the Socialists and Communists singing the "Internationale. ” The Premier, M. Marsal, immediately afterwards formally invested M. Doumergue with office. Congratulations followed. M. Painleve was among the first to offer felicitations. M. Painleve and M. Doumergue cordially kissed both cheeks to the delight of the spectators. The military rendered honours. The crowd' cheered as M. Doumergue, accompanied by M. Marsal, left for the Champs d’Elysee, whence M. Millerand meanwhile had quietly departed. M. Doumergue immediately summoned M. Herriot. In a speech at the ceremony of investiture M. Doumergue declared that he would respect the constitution standing above parlies. He trusted the President and the Parliament would collaborate to solve toe grave problems and enable France to enter an era of useful work and peaceful progress. s M. Doumergue is aged 61, and is a southerner. He is the first Protestant or bachelor President. Ho was at one time member of the colonial magistracy, holding posts in Indo-China and Algeria. The election is regarded as a severe blow to the Left Bloc, the entire opposition in the Chamber of Deputies and the whole of the Senate, including Radicals, voting for him.—Reuter.