The Portland daily press., 1900-09-24
WAR IN PARIS.
The Mayor and President Not on
Speaking Terms.

Paris, September 22.-A state of open
warfare exists between the municipal
council and the government. This was
made apparent today by the publication.
of a letter from the Premier, M. .Wa Waldeek-
Rousseau, declining all direct communi-
cation with the council.
The conflict has been simmering since
the nationalist victory at the late mu-
nicipaI elections and the choice of the
militant nationalist M. Grebauval, as
president of the council. The latter be-
gan hostilities shortly after he assumed
office, by Offering an overt affront to
President Loubet and M. Waldeck- -Rous-
seau by ostentatiously leaving the gym
nastic festival in the gardens of the
Iuileres, at which they were present.
The nationalist press warmly approved
this action ON the part of NJ Grebauval.
The governments first reply was It's
failure not to invite a representative Of
the municipality to attend the unwilling
OF the Washington and Lafayette monu-
ments in this city; and other Incidents
of like nature followed, Then came
the municipality projected fetes in
honor of all the mayors OF France in con-
nection with which President Loubet
even refused to receive the town officials
which were to offer him an Invitation,
as the fete was obviously intended as a
demonstration against the government.
The latter, moreover, through the medi-
um Of the prefects of the Seine, and Paris
strangled the fete by informing Mayor
Grebauval that he had no authority to
issue Invitations, except co-Jointly with
the projects. M. Grebauval, thus hu-
INFLATED, and finding that most of the
replies to his Invitations were refusals in
which the writer's roundly reproved him
for working to undermine the republic,
abandoned the fete. The government
cleverIy retorted by announcing that
the people of Paris would not lose by
the Abandonment, for the arrangements
begun by the municipality would be car
ried through under the auspices of the
exposition authorities.
The next development In the duel was
a renewed bid for popularity by deciding
that the sum, originally allocated for
the lexpenses OF the mayoral fete. should
be distributed among the poor of the va
rious wards. Then, it is stated, the mu.
nicipality asked an interview with NJ.
Waldeck-Rousseau in order that they
might discuss a new municipal bin which
would make the municipality more inde-
pendent. This application was made by
the Vice President, and NJ. Waldeck-
Rousseau's response, published today, Is
the last and most serious phase OF the
struggle between the two bodies. NJ.
Waldeck- Rousseau did not even write to
the Vice President direct, but to the pre-
feet of the Seine, whom he asks to in
form the Vice President that his applica-
tion is refused. The Premier points out
that NJ. Grebauval has broken all reIa-
tions with him. He says It is difficult TO
allow the municipal council to be repre-
sented by the Vice President when it de-
sii es to enter into communication with
the government and by the President
when it is a question of insulting It. NJ
Waldeck- Rousseau concludes by instruct
ing the prefect to receive all the council {
communications to the government.