THE FRENCH CRISIS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1925, Page 3

THE FRENCH CRISIS

[Australia it N.Z. Cable Association.J UPROAR IN FHUNCH CHAMBER. ' NUMEROUS BOUTS OF FISTI- 5 CUFFS. 1 {.Received this day at 9.15 am.) PARIS, Nov. 23. ‘ Violent scenes preceded the resigna- | tiou of the Government. Bokatiowski, the Opposition’s finance exi>ert, declared 31. Painleve’s plan to consolidate the short term debt would bludgeon French credit to death. M. l’ainleve’s supporters rose screaming “Traitor." M. Paiuleve declared the statement j ■ Wvas murderous. The final vote was taken amidst uproarious confusion, Deputies shouting challenges and banging their desks. When M. Paiuleve and his Ministers rose and went out indicating resignation, their supporters shouted: “Long Live the Republic !’’ while the Opposition indulged in derisive laughter. The uproar culminated in numerous bouts of fisticuffs. POSSIBLE PREMIERS DISCUSSED. PARIS. Nov. 23. M. Briand is in indifferent health, physical exertion difficult ; so his succession to the Premiership is unlikely, though he is anxious to eontimie the Foreign Secretaryship and complete the Locarno Treaty. Other possibilities are that M. Painlove may form n Ministry independent of the Socialists, relying instead upon . -the Centre Party; or M. Doumen may ** r " s form a Government from the Left Parties. Cnillaux’s hour has not yet struck. THE FRANC SLUMPS. {Received this day at 11.25 a.mQ LONDON. Nov. 23. The fall of the Paiuleve Government caused the French franc to slump at the opening of the 1-ondoii Exchange market to a new low record of 125 1-8, as tlie result of heavy selling. OUTLOOK CONFUSING. PARIS. Nov. 23. - The political outlook is confusing and uncertain. M. Briand is regarded ns the only man capable of forming a concentration Cabinet, based on the Majority Centre and Left, not on the left cartel, ns were the Herriot and Palnlero cabinets. Various parties of the Left Cartel held meetings after the resignation of Cabinet, but were unable to agree upon a policy. Finally a joint conference of Socialists, Radical

Socialists and Republican Socialists, adopted a resolution declaring their determination only to support a Cabinet of the I.eft under Herriot nr Briand. These three groups total 2<B deputies, therefore it is essential that they should obtain the support of at least twenty of the forty Radical Loft group, to assure a majority in the Chamber to form a Government, prepared to carry out the Cartel’s policy.