FRENCH PRESIDENCY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1651, 18 January 1913, Page 5

FRENCH PRESIDENCY.

REPUBLICAN CHOICE.

M. PAMS LEADS ON PARTY BALLOT.

By Teleiripli-Prcei AB3ooiatlon~Oopyright Paris, January 16, A third ballot by groups of the Republican Left in the two Chambers of Parliament to chooso a candidate for the Presidency, gave M. Pains, Minister for Agriculture, 323 votes, or one below the required majority!' -' M. Poincare secured 309, and several others smaller 'votes. M. Paul Dcchanel and M. ■ Antonin Dubost retired from the contest before the ballot was taken. M. POINCAEE ATTACKED. '' ■ (Reo. January 18, 0.20 a.m.) ' • ' Paris, January 17. The determination of the Prime Minister, M. Poincare, to oontest the Presidency, in defiance of tho party's wish, lias led to a stormy meeting of the party. Some of the speakers characterised M. Poincare as an adventurer who had strangled party discipline. ':' '■

M. Jules Pams, who now 6eems likely to be selected.as the Republican party's candidate for the Presidency of Prance, is a Janded proprietor and an advocate. He was born in Perpignan, in the south of France, in 1852/ and on August M next, will be 61 years old. After gaining soma experience in local politics, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1893, and retained his seat nntil he contested a;by-election for the Senate in 1905, and was elected ' Senator for PyreneesOrientals. He became Minister for Agriculture in M. Caillaux's Cabinet of Maroh,: 1911, and has retained the post in the Ministries which have followed. Tho President is elected for seven years, by an,absolute majority of votes, by the Senate and' Chamber of Deputies united in a National Assembly of CongTess. He , promulgates the . laws voted, by' both Chambers, and ensures their "execution. He selects a Ministry from the two Chambers, but may, and sometimes does, choose Ministers who are not members of either Chamber (e.g., a-general as Minis'ter for War, an, admiral as' Minister for Marine, n civilian as Minister for Foreign Affairs); he appoints to all: civil and military posts, has the right of individual pardon, and is responsible only in case of high treason. The President concludes treaties with foreign Powers, but treaties which' affect, the area'of France or-of French colonies "must be approved by the Legislature, and he cannot declare war without the previous assent of ,both Chambers. .Every act of the President has to be countersigned by a Minister. With the consent of the.Senate he can dissolve the Chamber of Deputies.