Our Paris Letter.

Manawatu Herald, 31 July 1894, Page 3

Our Paris Letter.

(PrtOlt Otrit OWN COfiRESI'ONDKNT.)

Paris, 30th May, 1894.

The resignation of the Casimir Perier Ministry has fallen on the country like a " bolt from the blue." No one expected it — not even those whose faith is Ministerial instability, and whose recognised trade is Ministerial destruction. The Ministry fell before the habitual weapon of the Opposition— an unexpected interpellation — without a word from the Prime Minister in defence of himself and his' colleagues. This has given rise to the impression that the Casimir Pirier Ministry deliberately committed suicide, rather than face the Budget difficulty, which, from the antagonism developed between the Budget Committee and the Minister of Finance, promised to be insurmountable.

Since the opening of the Ministerial crisis there have been several meetings of Parliamentary groups, in order to discuss future action. One of the most influential of these groups — that of the Government Republicans — composed partly of the old Centre Gauche, and the right wing of the Opportunist Group, haa plainly declared itself against the revival of a policy of Republican Concentration, and pledges itself to oppose any Ministry formed on these lines. This group is over two hnndred strong, and if it adheres to its resolution a Concentration Cabinet cannot last very long.

There is already a precedent dur^ ing the lifetime of the present Chamber of a new Ministry lasting exactly one month, and this is the period which the Government Republicans will probably allow to a Concentration Cabinet. Parliamentary Government is not possible without a steady majority, and the spectacle of unstable Ministers lasting but a few months is calculated to bring Parliamentary Government into contempt. The Ministerial crisis lasted nearly a week ; and only yesterday, M. Dupny, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, succeeded in forming a new homogenous Ministry. The following is the list of the new Cabinet : — President of the Council and Minister of the Interior and Public Worship, M. Ch. Dupuy ; Finances, M. Poincare ; Education and Fine Arts, M. Leygues ; Justice, M. Guerin ; War, General Mercier ; Public Works, M. Barthon ; Commerce, M. Lourties ; Colonies, M. Delcasse ; Agriculture, M. Viger ; and M. Haustaux, Director of Consular and Commercial Affairs haa accepted the important part of Minister of Foreign Affairs.

It is stated that M. Casimir Perier will raise no objection should his friends, as they doubtless will, put him forward as a candidate for the Presidency of the Chamber, the post which he resigned to become Premier.