ARISTIDE BRIAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3216, 3 November 1915, Page 49

ARISTIDE BRIAND

NEW PREMIER GF FRANCE

INCIDENTS OF HIS CAREER

Aristide Briand’s appointment as President of the Council of France, in succession to M. Viviani, is probably due to the fact that he is a Socialist, and as such in closer touch with the nation as a whole than is his predecessor in office. M. Briand has twice previously led the French Cabinet, and he has not found the position a bed of roses. Shortly after he formed a Cabinet, on the resignation of the Clemenceau Ministry, in July, 1909, he was “potted” by a man with a revolver in the public gallery of the French Chamber; in January, 1911, he was violently assaulted by a Royalist iu the Tuileries Gardens; and a month or two earlier, at St. diamond, he had to walk a considerable distance w 7 hile several hundred of his political opponents threw stones at him. Also—a mere trifle—a Spanish Anarchist, with a loaded revolver, was arrested while attempting to force his way into a banquet over which M. Briand was presiding. Before that he was cordially hated by his political opponents, and their hatred was due to the fact that at one time they were not his opponents. He climbed into power by the Socialist ladder; but when he w T as no longer such a violent opponent of authority as he used to be, his former friends took every opportunity of annoying him.

After a brilliant career at school and college he entered the law, and became qualified to plead. His first big case to bring him into notice as a thoroughgoing Socialist was the defence of strikers charged with violating personal liberty, and damaging property. He also defended Gustave Surve, the great anti-patriot, when the latter was charged with sedition. This early work for the French Socialist Party carried him into Parliament. Here his eloquence soon made him a marked man, and after holding one or tw 7 o other appointments he became Minister for Justice. A quaint little story was told of him during his term as Minister for Justice. In the course of his official duties he visited a town in the south-east of France, famous as a watch-making centre, and the local Mayor gracefully presented him with a magnificent watch. Now, M. Briand had heard something about this little town and the watch that was presented to every important personage that went there. He had also heard that the watch was retained by the Mayor “ to be pub right,” and was never heard of again. So when the Mayor said: “If your Excellency will permit, we will keep the watch for a few days and regulate it," M. Briand guessed what would happen. He thanked the Mayor effusively, shook lum warmly by the hand, and declared that as he 'was a bit of a clockmakcr himself he would enjoy putting the watch in order ; and while he did so he -assured His Worship he would think affectionately of the little town. And much more to the same effect. The Mayor, who had gravely presented that same watch to every visitor of importance for years past, was very cross about, indeed. When he is tired of political worries, M. Briand slips off for a few days’ fishing, leaving no address. In August, 1910, he was lost for a week, and all France was scoured for him. A detective discovered him sitting placidlv on a river bank, with

his rod and tackle about him. The detective pretended not to recognise him; but gradually led the conversation round to tha excitement caused in Paris by the Premier’s disappearance.

M. Briand looked suspicious. He had heard nothing about it, he said; but the detective assured him that M. Briand was urgently wanted on some matter of State, They parted, and that evening the Premier returned to civilisation.