CABINET FALLS

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1934, Page 7

CABINET FALLS

DOUMERGUE RESIGNS TASK GIVEN M. FLANDIN REFUSAL FROM M. LAVAL “DROPPING OF THE PILOT” ATTACK BY A NEWSPAPER By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Paris, Nov. 8. The Doumergue Cabinet has resigned. President Lebrun asked M. Laval to form a new Cabinet, but M. Laval declined. The Premiership was then offered to M. Flandin, who accepted. , A letter from M. Herriot, leader of the Radicals, containing his resignation from the Cabinet was signed by MM. Herriot, Berthous, Bertrand and Quille. M. Doumergue strongly attacks the selfishness of the Radicals and says that the political truce could not consist of bowing before the exigencies of a party which had held complete power from February 6, and subordinating decisions solely to that party’s pleasure. M. Doumergue added: “At least six Ministers have abandoned me. I cannot govern with a minority, and while I do not fear an election I consider it inopportune. I do not desire to deliberate under the double menace of riots and dissolution.” The Radicals justify their resignations ori the ground that M. Doumergue had not consulted them on vital reforms. Headed “Dropping the Pilot,” L’lntransigeant publishes as bitter an editorial as has ever been printed in France. “CURSES FROM ALL SIDES.” ’ “Thus suddenly the pilot has curses rained on him from all sides,” says the editorial. “He was sent for when the ship was about to sink and stoically consented to resume an exhaustive and perilous job. We cannot blame him whatever for the dangers his departure entails. “We will kill our own men. Here vzas a Premier attempting a great task, but immediately he wants to work he is ceaselessly harassed and over 100 unimportant questions are tabled. “Our political morals are bad. We praise the great servants of the State only when they are in their graves, whither we send them before their time.” An ultimatum was delivered by M. Rocque, chief of the Fiery Cross League, the strongest ex-servicemen’s association in the country. “If Parliament and parties commit the crime of returning to their old intrigues the. nation will not forgive them,” he said. “Let Parliament beware that its attitude to-day will decide between peace and war. If it is to be war there will be civil war first. “I am not speaking for a mere list of 200,000 names but for men of heart and resolution,” said M. Rocque. “They are ready to act at a minute’s notice." This declaration strongly affected the Bourse where many fear that the crisis will lead to disorders as bad as those of February. Government stocks slumped heavily.

NEW MINISTRY CHOSEN TRUCE TO BE CONTINUED DIFFERENCES FORGOTTEN Rec. 7 p.m. Paris, Nov. 9. M. Flandin to-night announced his new Cabinet as follows: — Prime (Minister: M. Flandin. Foreign: M. Laval. Finance: M. Germain Martin. Marine: M. Pietri. Air: General Denain. Colonies: M. Rollin. Pensions: M. Rivollet. Justice: M. Pemot. Interior: M. Regnier. Education: M. Mallarne. War: General Maurin. Public Works: M. Roy. Commerce: M. Merchaneeau. Agriculture: M. Cassez, Labour: M. Jacquier. Post Office: M. Mendel. Mercantile Marine: M. Ibertrand. Health: M. Queuille. Ministers without portfolio: MM’. Herriot and Marin. The Cabinet is balanced similarly to that of M. Doumergue. M. Flandin, in announcing the names, said the truce continued and the differences had been forgotten. M. Flandin is the youngest Prime Minister in the history of the French Republic. He is 45 years of age and stands six feet six inches high. Despite the refusal of M. Tardieu and Marshal Petain to join him, M. Flandin decided to complete his Cabinet to-night. Marshal Petain assures him of his goodwill. The police have reinforced the city, which is comparatively quiet, except for the parading of bands of students and members of youth organisations, whom the police kept moving. The Croix de Feu is calm and refrains from meetings and speeches. It will give anyone with a clean political reputation a chance, but there is no guarantee that the hurriedly-formed stop-gap Ministry will outlast a few weeks. Lobbyists declare that the pre-truce days of threemonths Cabinets have returned. Patriotic organisations, though not mobilised, stand at attention awaiting events. The Action Franteaise is preparing two demonstrations. To-day’s brief session of the Chamber of Deputies ended with cries from the Left, “Down with the assassins!” and shouts from the Right and Centre, “Vive Doumergue!” A Cabinet meeting, despite the mechanical procedure, did not lack drama inasmuch as it turned .he last page in the last chapter of tl«s public service of “Papa” Doumergue, whose wife quietly awaited him outside his office while he cleared up his papers preparatory to handing over to M. Flandin.