The herald., 1898-09-18
SUBMIT THE DREYFUS CASE TO
A COMMISSION
ZURLINDEN RESIGNS
The Crisis So Serious as to Threa ten
the Continuance Of the Third
Republic
A sSnciated Press SpeCial Wire.

PARIS, Sep: T.-At meeting or The
Cabinet Ministers today 1T was decided %
submit. the decisions in the Dreyfus case
to a commission to be selected by the Mn"
lister of Justice, M. Sarrien. The Minister
Of War, General ZuMnden, and the Mn
lister of Public Works, Senior NNate, left
before the Council adjourned, which Is n
terpreted as meaning that they do not agree
with their colleagues In this matter ana
that they intend to resign.
The Council met at the ElySee at $3.50
a. m, President Faure presiding. Accord
ing a semt-offctal note, the Minister CT
Justice said that after examining papers
he felt unable to decide upon the question
of the proposed revision of the Dreyfus
case until he had taken the OPINION of a
special commission of the Ministry Of JUS
tice.
The Cabinet thereuppn a,t horZed the
Minister to summon a committee for the
purpose. 1t is reported now that the port
folio Of the Minister of War Will be offered
to General De Brun or M. De Freycinet,
and that if they refuse 20 accept the Office,
M. Br.sson win assume the duties Of the
MI mister of War in addition to the Premier
ship, and M. Valee will be appointed Min
lister OF the Interior.
AS he was leaving the Eysee Palace
after the Cabinet meeting, large crowd of
people cheered the Premier, M. Brtsson,
with cries Of "Viva la revision" apparent
~ showing that feeling was changing in
favor of a re-opentng of the Dreyfus case.
Zurlinden Resigns
PARIS, Sept. 17.-General Zurllnden has
sent his written resign alton to Premier
Brisson as follows:
81 have the honor to beg you to receive my
resignation of Minister Of War. An eX-
hhustive study CT the papers in the Dreyfps
case has convinced me too fully of his gull.
for me 10 accep!, as the head of the army
any other solution than that of the main
tenance Of The judgment in, Its nt.rety."
Successor Appointed
Later in the day another cabinet council
was held, at which General Chanoine, COM
.mander of the First division of the First
army corps. Department of the North and
the Pas de Calais, was appointed minister
of war in succession to General Zurlinden,
and Senator Godin, representing French
India, was appointed minister of public
works, succeeding M. Tallay. The latter in
transmitting his letter of resignation is APP
parently bidding for popular favor. He
wrote:
1.-THE council having decided to appoint
a commission to consider the request for
revision of the trial of the convict Dreyfus,
I am unwilling to accept any share in the
responsibility for the step, which, in my
opinion. involves a revision of the case"
The committe summoned by M. Sarrien
to decide upon the question of the proposed
revision will begin to consider the mat
ter on next Wednesday.
lola Converted
LONDON, Sept. 1Z-London Life claims
to have information that M. Emile lola is
about to become a Catholic priest. 1t says
the Vatican was approached on the SUBJ
ject a fortnight ago and that the pope has
given his assent to the ordination of the
distinguished author six months hence. M
Zolas conversion is said to have been made
by Father Gougon, the pastor of small
parish church and an intimate friend of the
novelist.
A Serious Crisis
All reports from France agree that the
Dreyfus case has now brought France to
the eve of crisis, perhaps the most
formidable in the history of the third re-
republic. The situation is rendered more
acute by the fact that it is threatening not
merely the existence Of the cabinet, but
the stability of the constitution. A sig
nificant feature of the situation is the at
titude of President Faure. He is known
to be utterly opposed 10 a revision of the
case but the premier, M. Brisson and a
majority Of his colleagues have decided in
favor of reopening the matter, but with
the resignation Of the minister of war.
General Zurlinden, as a result there is lit
tie doub. but that the popular feeling is
still against revision Thus the cabinet
will come in conflict with the people, while
Presidel t Faure. as the champion of the
army and with the sympathy of the nation,
assumes a formidable role which NAV lead
to grave developments. This will be clearly
seen If the cabinets decision leads, as is
extremely likely, to mob demonstrations.
1t is expected that with the present state
of ill-feeling the army will side with the
demonstrators against the cabinet.
0PTENTA DEDrrrrAHr