FRENCH ELECTIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1924, Page 2

FRENCH ELECTIONS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

POINCARE DEFEATED. AUSTRALIAN AND N Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION PARIS, May 12. M. Fabry (Minister for Colonies), M. Pniulcvc (ex-Premier) and Mr Cachiu (Communist Leader) are among those elected, while M. Sadi lx: Cointe (the aviator), It. Worth (head of the Worth Dressmaking linn) and M. Phillippo Rarres and bis son. 11. Maurice Uarres, are among those defeated in the French elections. A rough division of the parties shows that one hundred and thirtythree members of the right have been elected, namely, Conservatives, the more moderate Republicans, Left Ite-.-publicans and Dissident Radicals. members of the Left were elected, namely Radical Socialists, and Communists.

The Right Party has iiad 2G gains, and 130 losses, showing a net loss of 104 seats. The Left Party have won " 97 seats and lost nineteen, with n gain of 78. M. Poret, President of the Chamber was re-elected. PARIS, May 12. The results from 327 constituencies out of .784 give the Right (mentioned earlier) 243 seats, including more than tile Moderate Republicans 117, and Left Republicans 82. There will be no second ballot in four constituencies. The Right losses.total 157 and the' Left gain 104 ; namely, Radicals and Radical Socialists 46, Socialist 44, Communists 14. The Communists gained nine seats in the Fourth Seine Constituency, which embraces the industrial area round Paris. The elected include M. Klotr., M. Painleve, M. Georges Levgues and -M. Bokonowski (Minister of Marine). EXPLANATION OF VOTE. LONDON, May 13. The landslide of M. Poincare’s electoral hopes lias astonished Britain and j-r France alike. It is admitted that the cost of living and the ever amounting taxation largely explain Sunday’s vote. Frenchmen are clutching at the exports report in the belief that it justifies the stopping of heavy expenditure on the Ruhr.

WHO WILL BE NEW PREMIER? LONDON, May 12. A later Paris message points out that three possible Premiers are M. Briaiul, M. Painleve, and lie-riot. The last named is not a strong character, though he has been the nominal head s' of the Lett Bloc during tho election. The defeat of M. Poincare also harms President Milleraml, who has not been content to be a constitutional figurehead, but has been most active in setting the lines of French policy. M. .Milleraml hitherto has refused to work with a Cabinet of the Left Bloc.

There is some question as to whether M. Poincare may step into M. Millerand’s shoos at the E'.ysee. RADICALS’ PROMISES. LONDON, May 12. • The Radical Socialists approve or Germany paying the- reparations, Hi",.' dc.-.iie the League of Nations to secure ultimate peace. They arc strongly anti-Catliolic. They also say: Tax the rich! Leave the poor alone! The Radicals have been lavish in their promises, and they are pledged to concede 18,000 francs a year extra to ail the Government employees. This makes economy very difficult. The Radicals also have promised to complete the reconstruction of the devastated areas, and to bring ill a new Pensions Bill. There are already prophesies that the franc will be down to 100 in the 2 again in July. __ The difficulties of the Left Bloc will begin when it. tries to form a .Ministry but it will be necessary to await tho complete results before the actual situation is clear.

EFFECT OF REPARATIONS. LONDON, May 12. 'liu> “Daily Telegraph” remarks: Tim position is awkward for both M. Poincare and Mr MacDonald. M. Poincare may lie in office on May 19, hut lie will not be in power. Tie “Morning Post” remark's: If M. Poincare, as assumed, visits Mr MacDonald, lie will be ill much the same position. M Poincare will represent the Chamber but it will not have assembled. li is difficult in the circumstances to see how the interview can be* decisive, even admitting the view that a change nf Government may not involve a change iif policy.

The “Daily Express” says; M. Poincare has been defeated, ho has been washed away. Tile only question is whether lie will resign immediately, or wait until the new Chamber meets on the first of June. The “Daily Chronicle” Paris correspondent says: No one was more astonished at the result of the French elections than M. Poincare himself. Only a vestige of political power and-—— prestige remains to the men who -yesterday aspired to be dictators. The “Daily Herald’’ states that the results of the French elections are magnificent. “It is a victory for good sense and hr:ter international relations.” Mr Lloyd George speaking at the National Liberal Club said the French elections result had a significance for Britain. He Imped, and believed, that it would conduce to a large extent to the purification of the world. The ro- e_-v----salt had been won by unity and action > against great odds, and it contained a lesson for British Liberalism. PARIS, May 13. All the -Ministers who sought reelection were rein rued. The United Lei i have a majority .of twenty-two over all the other groups. The newspapers emphasise the vulnerability of any Government based on such narrow a majority without a commoil constructive policy and whose only point i:f cohesion is their opposition to the bloc.

A nation wide field of .speculation has been opened up by the suggestion that, in order to safeguard its chance of survival, anv new Government must

secure the support of the right and ~~ centre groups, and form a coalition concentration, through duo with sidcrably more of a left complexion than M. Poincare’s Government. Cabinet meets to-morrow to discuss questions arising out nf the elections, notably whether Poincare will resign immediately or await the meeting of th" chamber, and whether he will keep his engagement at Chequers for May 19th.

A LEFT SUCCESS

'Received this dnv ti 8 n.m.) PARIS, May 12. The returns are complete except for the Colonies and one Nord department. while there will be four second ballots. The results show 290 Left. namely 127 Radicals and Radical Socialists. 39 Republican Socialists, 101 Socialists. 29 Communists, and 27-1 Right, namely 11 Conservatives. 137 Milderate Republicans. 92 Left Republicans. 31 Independent Radicals. The results indicate that while Paris was loyal to M. Poincare, the Left swept the country. The question on n'*l lips is when will

Left newspapers are jubilant. The “Lesoir’’ declares the bloc national is dead. It is the fluty of Al. Poincare and AT. Alillcrand to go. POLICY UNLIKELY TO BE ALTKRFD. (Received this day at 10.10 a.m.) I LONDON, .May 13 It is semi-ofiieially stated the Experts’ plan will proha lily remain the basis of the French reparations policy nml even il Af.. Poincare ceases In di-j rcct, the public affairs bis successor Is unlikely to abandon altogether the policy ol the present Premier. CONFERENCE WILL UK A BANDON Kl). LONDON, .May 13. The opinion expressed in London is that the meeting of Air .MacDonald and Al. Poincare at Chequers Court will I inevitably be abandoned as the result of the French elections. A meeting he tween Air .MacDonald and the new Fioncii Premier is regarded as certain but this will necessarily be delavcd to I give Af. Poincare’s successor time to look around.

TO RESIGN OX .JUNE Ist. PARIS, Ala.v Pi. -M. Poincare will resign on .Juno Ist '‘DAILY AfALL” CO A On: XT. LONDON. A lay 13. Tlio “Daily Atail”. in an editorial, says that Af. Poincare was defeated jnst when his policy seemed on the veiTC of achieving success. France has now swung to the Radical Socialists’ side. There is an overmastering desire for peace even at the price of great sacrifices. Af. Poincare’s reverse was probably (lue to the fresh taxation which he had the courage and patriot, ism to impose as being the only means of preventing the steady fall of the franc. The fear that the new Government may not take the same strong financial line is responsible for the. heavy slump of the franc. The German militarists will regard the lesnlt of the French elections as an encouragement and will do their utmost to overthrow the Dawes reparations scheme. France’s great need is a strong Government, cooperating closely with Britain, to preserve pence and prevent Germany from evading her.''obligations. There is every reason to believe that Af. Briand or Af. I’ainleve succeeding, they would he equally resolute in maintaining France’s safety.

TIIK NEW PRF.AfIKR. CREDITED WITH PRO-ENGLISH. LEANINGS. [l!euthiis Tki.huhams.] [Received tnis dav at 9.if5 a.nr 1 LONDON, .May 13. Al. llerriot is a distinguished educationalist and the pioneer of local Government. lie is known as tile King of Mayors on account of his success for many years for the .Mayoralty of Lyons. lie was .Minister of Transport in war time and shares with Al. Loucheur the reputation of being one of the first economic authorities of France, lie organised the Lyons fair and has been identified with attempts to instore Franeo-liiissiaii commercial relations and in that connection lie wont on a mission to -Moscow two years ago. Al. llerriot is credited with pro-Kng-lisli leanings.

OPINION OF THE “TIAIES". LONDON, Ala.v 1:5. 'llit- ‘-Times” says the ('rowing cost ol' living, the stonily mill increasing tuxntioii .burden anil tho accuinnlnting anxieties that tho average French man and woman arc hearing, were strong arguments in favour of a change of government. AI. J’oinearn for two years has comentrated his energies on foreign Ufl'airs, displaying little interest in tho trontdes of tho average citizen anil ignoring the smaller arts of politics. The “Times” presumes there will ho no great sudden divergence from AI. Poincare’s foreign policy. All the parties, except the Communists, have either tacitly or openly expressed their approval of the Ruhr policy. Tho paper asserts the British Government is certainly prepared to enter close and friendly relations with any French Government for the purpose of establishing a solid basis for European peace.

Af. Poincare resign. The Governmental Organ “Intransigcant” admits the majority of the next Chamber is Radical Socialist and Socialist, and says AL Poincare is unlikely to resign until tire Chamber meets, when his resignation will he automatic. Briand or Harriot will probably he invited to form ft Cabinet. The Left press also demands the resignation of President Afillerarul, owing to bis close identification with Af. Poincare’s policy and the fact that he has been represented as taking a more direct part in politics I titan was customary for a President. Affording to the best information, however, a Presidential crisis is unlikely.