A SHORT LIFE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20962, 27 February 1930, Page 11

A SHORT LIFE

NEW FRENCH GOVERNMENT. DEFEATED ON FIRST VOTE, i bitter debate in chamber. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph— Copyright.) PARIS, February r "t. (Received Feb. 26, at 5.5 p.m.) The Government has been defeated, and is resigning. A bitter debate in the Chamber followed M. Chautemp’s reading of the Ministerial declaration. M. Tardieu was loudly cheered on entering, and the attack on the Government began immediately M. Eeynaud, of th- Right Group, pointed out that the Government which was now invoking national interest was composed of the same men who stabbed in the back the man who was doing his best in defending national interests. He added; “M. Chautemps knows he is lost.” M. Edouard Soulie similarly declared that the hours of the Government were already numbered. M. Chautemps, replying to the debate, emphasised that the chief differences with the Tardieu Government were financial. He proposed to lighten the burden on taxpayers. He added that M. Briand who for years had been preparing a policy of peace and disarmament, was going to London to represent the Government. M. Blum said that the Socialists were supporting the Government, despite the fact that they would suffer on some points, because it was different from the Tardieu Government, which was a- Government of reaction. M.. Franklin Bouillon said it would be wrong to send to London representatives of a Government which had no certainty of lasting.

Finally the Government was defeated on a confidence motion, the official figures being 277 to 292. M. Francois Marsal’s Government in 1924 and M. Ribot’s in 1014 were also defeated on their first appearances in the Chamber.

SYMPATHY FOR M. TARDIEU,

“STABBED IN THE BACK.”

PARIS, February.2s. (Received Feb, 26, at 8 p.m.) Sympathy for M. Tardieu, on personal as well as political grounds, was manifested before the debate. The-Ministers had taken their seats in the Chamber and the galleries were crowded, and when M. Chautemps entered his own party, and some of the Socialists clapped, but otherwise there was no mark of approval given. M. Tardieu came in a few minutes later, looking brisk and determined, and he was welcomed with hearty cheering. It was known that he had abandoned any idea of benevolent neutrality and meant to fight.

M. Chautemps’ speech was heard coldly, then his opponents began to make merry, saying that his policy was merely that of M. Tardieu, who would still' be Prime pnister but for an attack of influenza, but M. Chautemps could not carry out M. Tardieu’s policy because he was at «ie mercy of the Socialists, The new Prime Minister had said i that national considerations must come first, but .he had stabbed M. Tardieu in ■ the back when. he was engaged in international negotiations. M. Chautemps had promised to continue his predecessor’s policy in London, but the Socialist leader (M, Blum) had already declared that he did not subscribe thereto.

.. Tt *‘r 1 s ? bitter jests were evidently to the. liking of a large proportion of the deputies, who seized every opportunity to demonstrate sympathy with M. Tardieu. The leaders of ’certain radical sections explained that they must vote the Cabinet on the ground that M. Chautemps had placed himself in the/ hands of the Socialists, whereas the Chamber had been elected in order to °PPf se the Socialists’ collectivist policy. M. Chautemps, in replying, did little except to appeal for the Chamber’s toleration, pointing out that he had requested M. Tardieu to continue representmg Prance in London, but he still thought that M. Briand would do equally well. He assured the Chamber tiiat the Government would stand by the hreneb naval memorandum of December 20, which set forth , the French viewpoint.

J J , J B * m « Baid that tlie Socialists supported the Government, but they wanted Less spent on armaments. The first vote of confidence went against the Government by 292 votes to 278, and thus fell the shortest lived Cabinet of the Third Republic. The vote was received with cries of “Vive Tordieq! ’ The result had been anticipated- from the moment the Socialists began to dictate what the Government’s policy should be ip London. Throughout the proceedings there was an atmosphere of resentment and the bitterest phrases were used to characterise the treatment accorded to M. Tardieu, though something more than profound, personal loyalty lay at the root of the struck* A vast crowd gathered outside the Chamber, the approaches of which were closely guarded by the police. It is considered unlikely that the President will summon M. Tardieu and b v CllG 7 ed that a stopgap Government will be formed in order to pass the Eudget, which is regarded as more im portant than any international conferv? Ce xi Cle “ ltel is mentioned, and M. Briaud and M. Poincare, who are both unlikely .to form a Government owing to reasons of health.