The herald., 1896-04-04
THE EGYPTIAN QUESTION
THE EXPLANATIONS OF M. BOURGEOIS ARE
DECLARED INADEQUATE
A Resolution Refusing . Vote Of Confidence
In the Government introduced and Passed
An Explanation Offered Of the Reslgna.
tlon Of M. Berthelot
Associated Press special wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
PARIS. April 3.-In anticipation Of q
lively debate upon the foreign policy Of the
government, the senate was crowded today
and many deputies, as we'll as most Of the
ministers. were present.
M. Doumer, as minister Of finance, sub
mitted a bill providing for the Madagascar
credits. In supporting the proposal of M.
Bissenit to defer interpretations until after
the holidays, the premier, M. Bourgeois,
declared he could not add to the explana-
tions on the Egyptian question which had
been furnished on Tuesday. He added
that the government yesterday had OBJ
tanned by vote of the chamber of depu-
ties proof that the majority of that body
were assured it had sufficient authority to
pursue the pending negotiations and q
vote in the senate today might lesson the
authority given by the chamber of depu-
ties and, therefore, he begged the senate,
in the name of France. to postpone all in
terpellations until the re-assembling of
parliament. In spite of this appeal mo-
ton to defer the interpretations was de.
feated, whereupon M. Bourgeois declined
to reply TO them.
NJ. Milliard stated that the explanations
of M. Bourgeois were as inadequate in the
chamber as in the senate. He added that
the resignation of NJ. Berthelot, the former
minister for foreign affairs. had deceived
no one. All the world, he asserted, UNDER
stood NJ. Rerthelot's retirement was an ad-
mission of blunders committed. Continu-
ing, M. Milliard said that it was impossible
to approve the position to which France
had been reduced during the last five
months, both in Egypt and in Madagascar.
The internal policy of the government, he
insisted, was not calculated to increase the
prestige of France abroad. Thereupon M. /.
Milliard introduced the following resolu.
tion:
H.
government that 1t cannot add to it's ex-
plantations of Tuesday Ton the Egyptian
question: and considering these explana-
tions insufficient, refuse it vote of conf
dence.
The resolution was adopted by votc of
155 to So. All the ministers left the sem
ate after the passage of the vote of nom
ately adjourned until April 21.
After leaving the senate chamber the
ministers met at the Quai d'Orsay, in or
der to discuss the situation. They sep.
arated at 6 o'clock but maintained secrecy
in regard to the session.
AT the close of the discussion, however.
NJ. Bourgeois went to the Elysee palace in
order to see the president.
BERTHELOT's RESIGNATION
LONDON, April 4.-The Paris correspond
ent of the Times claims TO have the best
authority for the following exclamation of
the resignation OF NJ. BerthelOt az minis
ter Of foreign affairs:
ut appears" he says, "that after NJ.
Berthelot's speech OF March 10, which
pledged in definite way the policy of the
government regarding Egyptian affairs and
left nothing untouched upon, the Russian
ambassador, Baron de Mohrenheim, made
q communication to the French govern
ment, in which, after formally declar-
ing that he had scrupulously ab-
stained from interfering in the domestic
affairs of France, he pointed out that the
present question was one of absolutely in.
ternal interest, in which the commission on
action of France and Russia would natur-
ally be sought. Consequently, it seemed
surprising that such declaration should
be made in the chamber without having
communicated with the representative of
Russia, which left him no longer able to
frankly express an opiniop.
'Prince Lobanoff- -Rostovsky. the Russian
minister of foreign affairs, hastened to APP
prove the attitude of the Russian ambassa-
dor.
''At the cabinet meeting on Saturday M.
Bourgeois communicated the foregoing to
his colleagues in the ministry. 1t is un-
known what occurred at the cabinet couu-
Gil but that M. Berthelot. after announcing
his intention to resign. quilted the council
and has not returned to the Quai d'Orsay
SINCE"