The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1917. POLITICAL CHANGES IN FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3091, 23 May 1917, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1917. POLITICAL CHANGES IN FRANCE

Cablegrams which dealt at the tirao with the reconstruction of the French Cabinet in March last went little beyond a bare record of the fact, but particulars received by mail throw interesting light upon what was, whilo it lasted, a period of acute political tension.. Commentators are agreed that there was nothiug in the crisis which could possibly be interpreted as an indication of any slackening in the country's determination to achieve Victory. It was over questions of leadership and methods that dissension arose, and there is no distinction to be drawn between the determination of the Ribot Government and that of its predecessors in regard to bending every possible effort upon winning the war. Within theso limits, however, opposition and hostility to the Brian d Government developed rapidly from tho later months of last year onwards. The results of Allied policy in the Balkans, and particularly the unfavourable turn of events in 'Rumania, gave rise to a storm of criticism, and M. Briand and his colleagues were accused also of allowing such conditions of economic stringency to arise in France as argued a grave lack of foresight on their part. Some of the principal issues upon which the fate of the Briancl Government turned were discussed at secret sessions, and have not, in Franco or elsewhere, been thrown completely open to the public ga?e. It is clear, however, that months before the- crisis came to a head M. Biuand had lost the confidence or Parliament. In December last ho reconstructed his Cabinet, concentrating power in the hands of a smaller number of Ministers, but the arrangement did not work well in practice, and did not recover for the- Government the standing and inlluence it had lost. M. Biuand's position in March has been compared 'with that of Mr. Asquith in tho period immediately preceding his resignation. , Matters came to a head on March M. In a debate on the air services on that date General Lyautey, Minister of War in the Briand Cabinet, came into serious conflict with the Chamber of Deputies. He informed the Deputies that it was not possible for him to toll them, even in confidence at a secret session, the real situation . as regarded tho aviation services. Loud protests were immediately raised. Some Deputies demanded that the Minister should be called to order, while others declared that ho had insulted Parliament. The outcome was that General Lyautey resigned. His high reputation as an organiser did not secure toleration of his refusal to recognise tho cherished privileges of tho French Parliament. Faced by the necessity of finding a new War Minister, M. Briand decided to take the opportunity of enlarging the Cabinet, which he had restricted . three months earlier. He was met with a refusal on the part of all those whose co-operation he sought, and thefeupon'handed in his resignation. M. Painleve, who is now Minister of War, twice refused to accept that office under M. Briand—he did so for tho second time just before theiatler's resignation—and there are other circumstances which show how completely M. Briand had lost his former command of the situation. The composition of the new ment and tho circumstances in which it was created nevertheless amply bear out tho contention that it is simply and solely the latest edition of that "Government of the Sacred Union," which was formed by M. VIVIANI on August 26, 1914, when the Germans were marching on Paris.' M. Rihot, the grand old man of French politics, became Minister of Finance in that Government, and held the post until he was invited to form the Ministry now in office, and a large proportion of bis colleagues have served continuously during the war period, though the Cabinet in thllt P cl ' locl has been four times reconstructed. Of fourteen Ministers in the present Cabinet five were in M. Biuand's last Ministry, aud only four—and those not in the- most important offices—have not held office at one time or another .since the beginning of the war. That the opposition which compelled M. Briand to resign was directed against him only, or chiefly, as head of the Government is indicated in the fact that he was invited by M. Ribot to take the post of Foreign Minister. M. Briand pointed out, however, that, having hitherto represented Franco in foreign affairß with double authority aa Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, he feared that as Foreign Minister alone bis influence would be somewhat diminished. Moreover, in the interests of Parliamentary harmony ho thought it well that he should not bo a member of the new Government. M. Ribot thereupon decided to go to the Foreign Office himself. Since the formation of lhc_ Ribot Ministry represents . a partial readjustment intended to promote tho increased efficiency at which all partics aim in France, the characteris--1 tics which distinguish it from its

predecessors are not in all respects clearly defined. At a general view, however, the change involves a definite reversal of the policy of extreme centralisation to which M. Bui and adhered in forming his last Cabinet. The present Cabinet is considerably larger than M. Biuand's, consisting of fourteen, as compared with nine members. The Ministry of Agriculture, amongst others, has been re-established as a separate Ministry. A measure of decentralisation and some abatement of the dictatorial methods favoured by M. BkiAND are assured or promised under the regime of the new Government. In a declaration of policy read in the French Chamber and Senate, it stated, amongst other things, that it would watch over the freedom of discussion in the Press and would "prefer criticism, even though unjust, to the flaccid optimism which can only enervate the energies of the nation." The case for a measure of decentralisation appears to bo strong. It does not concorn the immediate conduct of the war,, for the Ribot Cabinet, like its predecessor, includes a War Council of limited membership. But M. Brians himself, when it was no longer in his power to alter the constitution of the Government, had come to the conclusion that a greater distribution of responsibilities was necessary to meet existing conditions. It is rather strange that he did not reach the conclusion earlier. The late extension of the Cabinet seems to be a natural sequel to developments affecting the political leadership of the country and the higher command of the army, in which M. Briand himself played a leading part in December last. Changes were then carried out which "had the effect of modifying in some respects the extraordinary powers conferred, upon the Commander-in-Chief at a time when it was expected that the war would be ended in a few months. No attempt was made to interfere with the powers of the Commander-in-Chief in planning and' directing military operations, but in the domain of industry political control was re-established. Apart from the fall of one leader and the rise of another, the changes made in March are of a nature to enable the French Government, without neglecting the conduct of tho war, to give due attention to the problems of reconstruction which from this time forward will assume increasing urgency and importance.