FRENCH MINISTRY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 March 1940, Page 5

FRENCH MINISTRY

RESIGNATION HANDED .TO PRESIDENT FOLLOWING ON SECRET SESSION. RESTRICTED WAR CABINET ANTICIPATED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, March 20. The French Government has resigned. The Cabinet went this morning to M. Lebrun, the President. to present its resignation. Cabinet reconstruction has been expected for some time, and it is believed that M. Daladier will be asked to form a new Government, which will very likely take the form of a restricted War Cabinet. According to custom. M. Lebrun is expected to consult the Senate and the Chamber before asking M. Daladier to form a new Government. A secret debate earlier in the Chamber lasted till 3 a.m. today. Though a motion of confidence in the Government was passed, a majority of the deputies abstained from voting, thus indicating their desire for reorganisation of the Government. EARLIER EVENTS FIVE-HOUR DISCUSSION. MANY DEPUTIES ABSTAIN FROM VOTING. PARIS. March 20. The Chamber of Deputies passed a vole of confidence in the Premier. M. Daladier. by 239 votes to one. There were 300 abstentions. The Chamber resumed publicly at 3.30 a.m. after five hours in secret session. A Radical-Socialist motion was tabled expressing confidence in the Government’s capacity to carry on the war to a successful issue. The voting means that a majority of the Chamber abstained, but the Government has not yet resigned. A Council of Ministers has'been summoned for 11 a.m.