CAUSE OF DEFEAT

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 42, 19 February 1930, Page 9

CAUSE OF DEFEAT

ABSENCE IN LONDON

FRENCH PROGRAMME FIXED

PARIS, 17th February

The cause of .the Government's defeat was the proposed tax on the profits of small ft opkeepcrs, which the Finance Commission wanted to reduce.

M. Gheron, Minister of '■ Finauce, refused to.agree on tho ground that it would endanger the Budget balance. Ho made -the question one of confidence, hence the necessity of the Government's resignation. , .' . ■

M. Tardieu's absence, in London was the direct eauso of the defeat.'as he was thus unable to keep a hold on-the recalcitrant deputies. It is expected, however, that t M. Tardieu will be asked to re-form. the Ministry." ■ " . Many 'deputies aro opposing .M. Tardieu on tho ground that as Franco has fixed a definite figure for her naval needs tho London Conference is of little importance to France, and they consiler M. Tardieu would be better occupied with' domestic problems. The doctors forbid M. Tardieu, to leave his bed, to see, visitors, or to'do work of any kind. Nevertheless, the Ministers met at M. Tardieu's bedside, where the traditional letter of resignation to tho President was drafted.

Tho crisis carno with dramatic suddenness, but was not-'entirely miexpected'in view of-the determined . hostilities of tho left parties to tho Government.. ' .

The amendment on which the Government was defeated, though nominally small, was, the last of repeated attempts to reduce. taxes in tho Budget debate. . •