FRENCH CABINET RESIGNS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 186, 12 January 1912, Page 5

FRENCH CABINET RESIGNS.

UNABLE TO RECONSTRUCT. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Paris, January 10. Tlfe Ministry has resigned. The Bourse is weak. M. Poincare refused the portfolio of Foreign Affairs, but M. Delcasse accepted it on condition that a Minister of Marine was appointed who would pursue his policy. Admiral Germinet declined the post of Minister of Marine. M. Delcasse, Minister of Marine, will succeed M. de Selves as Minister of Foreign Affairs. IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF THE RESIGNATION. A MINISTER'S EXTRAORDINARY ACTION. Received 11, 9.30 p.m. Paris, January 11. Inability to secure a successor to M. Delcasse, who accepted the portfolio of Foreign Affairs on condition that a atrong man was selected to the Ministry as Minister of Marine, hastened the Cabinet's resignation. The newspaper Liberte asserts that M. Caillaux, from July 1(5 to 31, when the Moroccan crisis was at its' worst, daily exchanged views with the Germany Embassy, and also received a secret emissary from Germany without informing M. Cambon, French Ambassador to Berlin. M. Caillaux, apart from economic concessions, must be prepared, adds the paper, to entertain the suggested principle or an understanding with Germany in Europe, the price of which would in evitably be acquiescence in the loss of Alsace-Lorraine and the breaking up of the Triple Entente.

THE FOREIGN OFFICE. '

M. de Selves was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs in June last. Referring to his selection for this position, a London paper stated:—"ln view of the violent attacks recently made upon M. de Selves in connection'with the unsatisfactory condition of Paris, it is not surprising that he has expressed his willingness to change the Seine Prefecture for the Quain d'Orsay. M. de Selves, who is a Senator of the Tarn-ct-Garonne, has been Prefect of three French Departments and Director-General of Posts and Telegraphs. He was appointed Prefect of the Seine in 1890. It may be regarded as certain that his appointment as Foreign Minister will mark no change in the general orientation of the foreign policy of 'France, as he is a strong supporter both of the Russian Alliance and of the Entente Cordiale."

The administration of the French Foreign Office is just now a target for much criticism, says the New York Post. When asked by the Parliamentary Commission, during a discussion of Moroccan affairs, if France had ever objected to Spain establishing herself at Larache and Alcazar,' the Foreign 'Minister, M. de Selves, replied that she had not. , His predecessor, M. Cruppi, at once pointed out that far from this being the case he had repeatedly protested against Spanish action, and reserved all French rights. M. de Selves accordingly found himself in an awkward position. Next day he was compelled to confess to the Commission that he had been mistaken, and that there were at least twenty telegraphic messages and despatches exchanged between Paris, Madrid and other capitals objecting to the Spanish initiative. He explained his error by saying that his "Directeur Politique," who occupies much the same position as that of the permanent Under-Secretary in England, had been away on leave at the time this correspondence was going on, and, consequently, had known, nothing about it. This explanation naturally led to much critical comment in political and other circles. The offending secretary has received an indefinite leave of absence, but there is a general impression that the machinery of the Foreign Office needs overhauling.

On November 30 the question of a reorganisation of the various Departments at the Quai de'Orsav was discussed when the Foreign Office vote was taken in the Chamber of Deputies. Several speakers referred to.what they described as the administrative and financial disorder which, in their opinion, had been disclosed by recent incidents in the service. The Reporter for the Foreign Office Estimates, M. Paul Deschanel,. who endorsed these remarks, suggested that the principle of unity of direction, which, imposed upon the Director of the Political Department sole responsibility for all current affairs, had been carried too far. The duties of this official ought to be distributed. Notwithstanding cases of individual failure, the French Foreign Office service had played a great and noble part in the history of France, and if it were encouraged to maintain its high traditions, French diplomacy, with the aid of France's alliances and friendships, might be trusted to bring the country safely through the crises of the future. The Foreign Minister. >M. de Selves, replied that the recent negotiations with Germany had taken up most of his time since he assumed office four months ago, and that he had been compelled to make the best of the existing organisation. He had, however, instituted a commission of three Ambassadors to make recommen-' dations on the subject. While reserving his decisicn until the enquiry had been completed, he expressed agreement with M. Deschangel's suggestion that there ought to be a permanent official at the head of the Department. An institution of the kind would make for continuity and co-ordination.