AVERTING A CRISIS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18546, 5 November 1934, Page 7

AVERTING A CRISIS

FRENCH PROPOSALS

GOVERNMENTAL REFORMS

SUPPORT FOR PREMIER

(Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) PARIS, Nov. 3. The Government crisis has been temporarily averted, A majority of members of the Cabinet to-day accepted M. Doumcrgue’s proposals for constitutional reform, but the Radicals reserved action on the question of the dissolution of the Chamber, regarding which At. Doumergue proposes that it can only be pronounced by the President with the consent of the ’Senate during the Government’s .first year, and thereafter the President can dissolve it without reference to the Senate.

The Radicals arc apparently determined to oppose the proposals, and Af. Doumergue is equally unyielding, but has decided to test the position in Parliament on November 0

Realising that the passage of the Budget will be impossible by the end or the j'car if ho embarks' on a constitutional debate, he intends to demand Three months’ credits, involving a vote of confidence, with an inplioation that a vQtc of confidence would be tantamount to approval of his whole policy, including the reforms. If the vote of confidence is passed, M. Doumergue will submit a bill convoking a National Assembly at Versailles to consider the Reform Bill and thereafter he will tackle the Budget in December.

A critical debate on the question of credits is expected on November 9. M. Doumergue’s victory will depend on a Radical split, which is possible. The Radicals’ disagreement with the Premier caused an all-round fall in stocks.

L’lntransigeant declares that Frenchmen are losing confidence in everyone and everything. “It is a state of mind preceding a revolution,” it, adds.

M. Doumergue, broadcasting, declared that he would not hestitatc to seek a dissolution and appeal to the country r if necessary, to obtain constitutional reform which was most urgent, as the present governmental instability was largely the cause of the financial, economic and political crisis.

He denied that he was aiming at a dictatorship, adding: “1 know only one .aspirant for a dictatorship and that’s the common front of the Socialists and Communists.”