FRANCE—The Troubles of the Government

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 1, 3 January 1907, Page 31

FRANCE— The Troubles of the Government

The French Premier and M: Briand, in pursuing, a policy of conciliation (says the ' Catholic Times'), recognise -that to engage at once in a more &o#ve per-. ' secution of. .the Church would result in arousing on behalf of. the persecuted, sympathies that nowUie dormant, and moreover, take the action of some Catholic leaders such as the Cardinal-Archbishop of \ Bordeaux}* wh.o has just formed a diocesan association to ' prepare the way for legal associations,' as indicating ■ .a 7 distinct desire to .come to terms with t!ie Government. But their friend, the Paris' correspondent -of the 1 Times,' supplies some noteworthy information as - tothe difficulties they encounter. There,is,- we learn from him, • a subterranean conflict' between the Government and the delegation of the Left, a "'■ Tjody; representing certain fractions of the majority. Under the Combes Ministry this ' delegation '• '■ ruled, the Parliamentary road, the Cabinet being little more than its executive committee.' The present Government rigor-

ously resents the arbitraly interference of this ParTiajnentary coterie. What does the correspondent's some-^ whxt my.»ieiious l.inguage mean? Is—it that-.M. Clemenceau and. M. Briaud dislike being mere instruments sin the" hands.of -- M. Combes'"masters, the Freemasons, and mindful of the outcry caused by their, interference with army appointments, wish to rule-without obeying their behests ? ' fs this the secreiPof the subterranean conflict 7 , " "