FRENCH POLITICS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16327, 17 January 1921, Page 7

FRENCH POLITICS.

FALL OF THE MINISTRY. SOME OF THE CAUSES. ANGLO-FRENCH ENTENTE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Reuter's Telegrams. (Received January 17, 9.10 a.m.) PARIS, January 15. Tho overthrow of M. Leygues is ascribed to a variety of causes. He was always regarded as a sort of buffer between two strong men, M. Millerand and M. Briand. Moreover, M. Leygues condemned as too acquiescent in the British standpoint, and not sufficiently insistent on French interests, especially concerning the strict execution of the provisions in the Treaty of Versailles. A majority of the Chamber were very dissatisfied with tho postponement of German reparations, which they consider were necessary to repair French finances. The future must decide whether the new Cabinet, with a so-called strong, firm policy, will promote or detract from the AngloFrench entente. NEWSPAPER COMMENT. NEW MINISTRY POPULAR. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received January 17, 9.45 a.m.) PARIS, January 16. Besides the Premiership, M. Briand assumes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The newspapers greet M. Briand’s seventh Ministry with lively satisfaction, and comment on the fact that ho had remained silent since 1917. “Lo Matin,” after remarking that the crisis would have been serious had it been prolonged, refers to the cooperation of M. Briand and Mr Lloyd George in 1916, in connection with the economic agreements which served as the basis of the political understanding between France arid Britain.