FRENCH CRISIS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1922, Page 2

FRENCH CRISIS.

iCSIT.ALI AN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.

RESIGNATION OF FRENCH

CABINET.

PARIS, January 12,

The French Ministry has resigned. The Prime Minister, M. Briand, Jfr plained his attitude in addressing the Chamber of Deputies. ,

He declared: It was impossible that France should be an absentee from, the Genoa Economic Conference. There was certainly a. majority of the Reparations Commission for the granting of a moratorium to Germany.

Mr Lloyd George, he said, had ret imposed any conditions to the Pact that would affect France’s dignity; and she. would not he expected to abandon hei position on the Rhine. As he finished his speech M. Briand declared he was going to send in his resignation to the President. He was loudly cheered by the Deputies, who were thronging the lobbies. When he reached the Elysee, M. Briand said his resignation was defin- ' ite and final. If M. Briand had desired to go to the vote, it is stated, he would certainly have had a majority. When M. Briand, in an earlier speech said that although a moratorium was to be granted to Germany, France would receive her due, lie was greeted with jeers and interruptions from the right. M. Briand then angrily gathered up his papers, and turned to leave the Tribune. There were general cheers when he changed his mind. He continued: — Have no illusions. We must look i>t things as they are. I persist in regarding England as a frieawJ. England agrees that if the French frontier is threatened, she will immediatly come to tho aid of France.

A Deputy (interrupting) : “England has no army!”

M. Briand: “That, is a- fine thing to say—after the Great War!” (Cheers). M. Briand continued; A politician has no right to return to the battleline if he is not certain that be won’t receive? bullets from his own side. I came here to protest against calumnies” M. Briand concluded: u w© havo done. Others will deToetter-^fe' He then left the Tribune. POINCAIRE THE NEW PREMIER PARIS, Jan 12. It transpires that there has been a conflict between M. Briand and President Millerand. This has been an important element in crisis. There were angry words between them at yesterday’s Cabinet, but M. Briand brought his colleagues round to his point of view* PARIS, Jan 13. President Millerand has asked M. Poincaire (ex-President of France) to form a new Cabinet. PARIS, Jan 13. The French Chamber of Deputies was packed. Even his opponents admit that M. Briand made a most brilliant oratorical effort. He expounded present problems, and discussed the Cannes Conference in close detail. He castigated what he described as “gross calumnies” regarding the Pact. He reminded the Deputies that he had refused to go to Cannes unless he had tte full moral support of the Chamber of Deputies. It is now believed that when M: Briand began his speech he had no decided to resign,. but he began feeling that he was losing a grip on the House. Het gave a sudden decision. He made the remark:—“WeH L I will clear out!” This was not understood until suddenly he ended his speech, and a stupified House saw the Cabinet filing out of the Chamber.

BRIAND’S WIRE TO LLOYD GEORGEL PARIS, January 12. President Millerand has accepted M Briand’s resignation of the Premiership. The Speaker of the Chamber proposed M. Poineaire as the next Premier. M. -Briand has telegraphed to Mr Lloyd George as follows: —“I am extremely grieved that I am unable to finish the conversations whereupon we were engaged in the interests of our countries and of the peace of Europe.” It is reported that a telegram from the French Senate Commission, which M. Poineaire and M. Itibot were responsible for, was sent to M. Briand at Cannes on Tuesday night. It said briefly that France must take everything, but give nothing away. M. Hribut accordingly then returned to Paris,

THE FRENCH CRISIS. (Received This Day at 9.40 a.m.) PARIS, Jan. 13. Immediately after M„ Briand’s resignation instructions were sent to Washington maintaining M. Sarrant at the head of the French delegation.'At Briand’s last Cabinet meeting several Ministers declared a ten years pact was of no value as German aggression was , *ot feared within that period, but . in fifteen or twenty years the situation would be different. Tiie “Petit Parisien” says the new government’s first duty will be- to dissipate tbe misunderstanding between France and Britain. Both governments may now perceive their negotiations can be conducted more easily in the v calmness of the Chancellories than in the open. The Cannes Conference is dispersing. '