NEW FRENCH CABINET

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1925, Page 2

NEW FRENCH CABINET

LIVELY SCENES IN CHAMBER. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION PARIS, April 22. The French Parliament has assembled with expectations of a lively character centring on the personality of M. Caillaux (the new Finance .Minister), on whom the Opposition are concentrating an attack, they having given notice of two interpellations hi respect to the .Minister ol Finance. I beiv i> little chance of the debate ending rill late to-morrow.

M. Caillaux was received with mingled hisses and t beers when he entered. The declaration of the Covornment’s polic y was l ead l,y M. Rain love in liif Chamber, and by ,M. Stecg in the Senate;

The declaration says that the Hoveniment is determined to preserve the security of Franco, and to saleguard France's equilibrium. The Government. iu its future international negotiations, will pursue a full development of the llawes Plan, and a settlement of the inter-Allied debts, which now weighs heavily upon French policy, and French credit. There will be reduced expenditure in the budget of 192(i. which will l.e entirely covered by taxation. It adds: “When the Budget is unquestionably balanced, we will devote ourselves to relieving the State from the functions of a hanker, which it Inis exercised too ling already. Me will then ask for considerable sacriitcos on the part of the nation, by appealing to the patriotism of all citizens in an atmosphere of national concord. The Government continues faithlul to the Geneva Fact, being the first step towards it general international pact ol peace, based on security, arbitration, and disarmament. France will ratify the international labour Conventions of ’Washington nncT Genova.” Tbe statement concludes: “1 he

seven post-war years have been a I itter disillusionment to France, but her present diflicultics should not cause the inexhaustible resources of France to be lost sight o', nor cause anxiety regarding her future.”

The declaration was much interrupted by the Opposition members ol the Right upbraiding Caillaux olid coupling liis name with that ol 8010.

A vote of confidence in the Government was carried by 314 votes to 250.

The Ministerial declaration also said that the maintenance of a French representative at the Vatican appeared to be expedient, and it appealed to Parliament not to re-open this controversy.

The ,■senate did not debale the Government declaration, but adjourned till the 23rd inst.

The Communist, Marcel Cochin, in tbe Chamber, moved an interpellation on the Government’s general policy. Tbe Chamber, however, first debated tbe interpellation lodged b\- M. Bertrand, on behalf ol the ex-Service Group, asking why M. (.'atllaux was included in the Cabinet.

Cheers and loud protests mingled while M. Caillaux bimsell sat in bis Ministerial bench, contemptuously inch Me rent .

M. Bertrand read the text, of the High Court's sentence against A|, Caillaux for communicating with the enemy, and be heatedly remarked that France bad not yet arrived at the pass of having to tlcnse between M. Caillaux ami bankruptcy.

Premier Painieve replied quietly, lie said be bad chosen the best, qualified men to comprise los Cani.net. and be bail appointed M- Caillaux to the Ministrv of Finance just as be unpointed Marshal Foeh and Marshal Retain to the chief commands in war time.

At. Caillaux arose, and a! first betrayed some dilution, but be quickly regained bis old time incisive accents. He said that be declined to enter into ])c csonalit ies. but lie dwelt on the national finances. Confusion, he said, choked (he State Treasury, the position of which, wit horn exaggeration, could be dcM rili' d as serious. He promised a complete reform in tbe new Budget, showing tbe expenditure and the corresponding luxation. A recount oi' the votes on lb:* quest ion of confidence in the <*nv?rnllieul show at 14 for tbe Gov. ruu" "l . and 21* aea in I . LONDON. April 22. The French financial situation remains undisclosed. Apparently lor a goad reason it lias not yet been discovered. M. Caillaux gave only a bare idea of bis policy when he declared: ”1 am unable to avoid present intlntinu ; but my desire is not to increase the banks’ advances to the State.” He proceeded: “file.':' is no question of any kind of eonsa.lidation o fbonds. That would be veritable bankruptcy.” finally, he macs' ii quite clear that sac rifices would be demanded. A dramatic incident occurred wlcer M. Itriaud. in lii.s speech asked: “What could be a better guarantee of security for France than a perfect understanding with the .illicsr” A military deputy interrupted: ‘Are you sure of England. l '’’ M. Ilrbiiid feelingly retorted: “Me did not have England’s signature in HIM. but she was with us all through, and fought on all our battlefields.” c Cheers ). M. Briancl added: “MV don’t want to do anything without our .Allies.” I,ON DON. April 22. The policy declaration by M. Painieve is regarded i:t London as of tbe vaguest character. Summed up in M. painleve’s words, it means: “(live us time to act- -then judge the result I” The “Daily Telegraph” says editorially: “M. Painieve’s declaration .gave only the most shadowy indications to tbe Ministry’s intentions. His task is to restore the confidence ot tbe investor by tbe stand management oi tbe nation’s finances. and to ebook tbe downward tendency of the trane. It is a Herculean task .involving new ami severe taxatim. wicli all tie political perils attendant thereon." LON DON, April 21. Tbe “Daily Express's" Paris cor-

respondent says: “Jeers, cat-calls and whistles greeted Al. Ciiiliaux's entry into the Chamlnr. From an early hour, a (piene awaited admission lo the public galleries. Women in striking low-necked, sleeveless dres.iestruggled li.r seats. Then they produced their powder puffs and lip slicks, and patiently awaited the great moment. When the .Ministers entered. a storm broke loose. ’I lie Lett cheered. The Light ereatid a great din.

Owing to inuuTuntinis, it tank At Eainlnve forty-live minutes to read hi short sin lenient. When the Riga

were not interrupt ing, the Left lurnvd the Chamber into a bear garden. M. Cochin (Communist) was limit.-i! by the Right. Then M. Lcrirr.nd, who is the champion of the cs-scrvnc men. made a furious onslaught on Al. C aillaux. whom lie accused of slipping in hv tin* hack door, taking advantage of political amnesty, instead of seeking a retrial. M. Caillaux became livid with anger, but did not intervene in the debate.