FRENCH POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1926, Page 2

FRENCH POLITICS

Al. BRIAND TO PICK. UP THE PIECES. | Australian A N.Z. Cable Association.] PAULS, Alareli 9. Everybody expected Al. Brand to bo the next Foreign Minister, but whether he would also he the Primo .Minister at present was uncertain. This was due to his remark that when lie arrived front Geneva his friends said: You are the only man who can lortn a Cabinet.” Al. Briand retorted: No they have broken the dish ovenmy head atul now expect mo to pick up the pieces.” G KRAI AN ATTITUDE. LONDON, Alareli 10. The news, telephoned from Paris, that AL Briand, all smiles, was busy n.'i-onstriteting the Cabinet, bestirred Geneva yesterday. F.veu Dr Luther and Dr Flresemann began to take an interest in Munething else Utah tbo .scenery. AL Briand telephonic-ally authorised AL Bonequr and AL T.oucheur to resume conversations, consequently Sir A. Chamcbrlain arranged for the .signatories of the Rhineland Pact to meet again to-day. Thereafter ho went to the Germans’ hotel, and talked lengthily with Dr Luther atuL > Dr St rose mn tin, who in jeering words,* remarked that the Berlin press had been standing on the doorstep since Sunday.

M. Eonoour and AT. Louolieur later conferred with tho Germans. It is understood that th.:* main purpose was to

shake the latter’s unconcern, arguing that though France did not intend to vote against Germany, there wero others who would probably not- hesitate* to do so if Germany was unconeiliatory. TUB FRANC. LONDON, March 10. The French franc was quoted on the London Exchange at 131 this afternoon. 1 >( 1 1 it improved to 132. Gd immediately the news of Af. Brinml’s ae-eel'-tautc of the Premiership was known. M. BRTAXD'S ACCEPTANCE. (Received tins day at 9.0 a.m.) PARIS, March 10. ’l'lmtigh Af. Briand has, at present, only accepted in princijilc. ho will iinnoune.? a definite decision to-night, h is confidently assorted that lie has already secured the necessary support; hem e Hie personnel of Cabinet may lie expected to-morrow. This will enable him to go to Geneva immediately. Interviewed when leaving the F.lys.eo AL Briand said that he told Al. Doumergue. in view of tho present situation he did not consider himself .justified in refusing to try to form a Cabinet.

As regards the question of a majority in tho Chamber in support of the imw Cabinet, a large number of the 221 delegates who voted for tho Government in the crucial division on Gth. .March, met and decided to con-

stitute a. permanent majority, which will probably he joined by those who abstained from voting on the Gth. Ala roll.

The Suci..list group rejected the motion in favour of supporting the new Government, and carried a resolution by a small majority, declaring the poll'',v which the group was prepared to loyally and whole-heartedly support, an ! v.dii' h would include particularly l of financial reconstruction, could only ! c carried out by a majority based on the Radical 'Republican and Mecudist Parties. THE NEW CABINET. PARIS, -March 9. The Premier, Al. Briand, is to retain Hie Foreign Ministry in the new Cabinet, which will include AT. Raool Peret (Finance), Al. Alalv.v (Interior), Al. Painleve (War), AL Laval (Justice), Al. Leon Perrier (Colonies) and AT. I.amourcux (Public Instruction). Tho last-named, hitherto, was reporter for tho General Finance Committee of tho ( handier of Deputies. AT. Briand returns io Geneva to-morrow night.