FRENCH CABINET CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3188, 12 September 1917, Page 7

FRENCH CABINET CRISIS

M. PAINLBVE MAT BE NEW PREMIER. Paris, September 10. It is expected that M. Paiillnvo (who has just resigned the Ministry of War) ■mil be invited <o take the Premiership. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. September 11, 11.30 p.m.) , -Paris, September il. President Poincare has invited M. Painleve to form a Cabinet. M. Painleve lias reserved liis reply.—Renter. [The cause of the French Cabinet crisis has not yet been definitely and officially stated, but it is thought that the "Bonnet Rouge" affair, and M. Maloy's connection with tho stories that were floating about had something to do with it. The Paris police 6ome time i\go raided the office' of a mysteriously subsidised newspaper, "Le Bonnet Rouge, which is described by a correspondent of "The Times" as devoted equally to the Pacifist propaganda and the interests of M. Caillaux (the ex-Prime Minister), whose conduct during the Agadir crisis, when Franco-German relations were severely strained, was unfavourably .criticised. The newspaper ff La Liberte" said that Almerveda (late editor, of the "Bonnet Rouge," who. was supposed to have committed suicide), had a conference in Switzerland with the notorious Austrian financier, Baron Rosenburg, whose operations were partly responsible for tho sec'ond Balkan war. There is an increasing belief that M. Almeryeda (who was arrested on a charge of possessing a secret document), did not commit suicide In prison, as had been stated. A pot of jam was sent to the prison for Almeryeda, containing a virulent poison. Other reports stated that Almeryeda strangled himself in his cell. M. Clemenceau (the famous journalist and; statesman) accused M. Malvy (Minister for the Interior) of having been associated with Almeryeda, who. he alleged, was only the minor agent in a huge conspiracy. M. Malvy denied the chßrge, but the allegations' threatened serious tronble to tho Ribot Government. M. Duval (business manager of tho "Bonnet Rouge," who has been arrested on a charge of trading with the enemy), claimed that he alwayß furnished the Government with any information that he secured through his association with Herr - Marx. the Mannheim banker. It is well known that Duval handled large sums of money as Marx's agent, the cheque for .£6OOO found in his possession at the time of his arrest having been thus obtained.l