The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-04-22
FRINGE IN THROEs OYER BlLTIt FLEET Question of Neutrality in the Far East Suddenly Becomes Extreme
 Iy Grave.
DELCASSE RESIGNS OFFICE
EMINENT TFoREIGN1 MINISTER IR-
 RITA1ED BY ATTACKS.

President Loubet and the Cabinet Beg
 Him to Remain-Ncutrality Dis
 cussed in Chamber--Governor-G
 of Indo-China Instructed to Specific
 ally Locate RojestvensIxy's Fleet and
 Whether it Has Left French Waters
 --Russian Cruiser Diana Ordered to
 Disarm--Moroccan Affair Also Troub-
 ling France.
 Paris, April 21.-After a notable ser vice of nearly eight years in the direc- tion of foreign affairs Theophile Del case to-day informed President of the Council Rouvier of his desire and inten- ton to resign.
 This announcement came as sur prise and shock to M. Delcasse's col- leagues of the cabinet, who immediate ly took steps to endeavor to secure a reconsideration of his determination. A cabinet council was held this afternoon, at which M. Rouvier, in the absence of M Delcasse, laid the situation before the ministers. It was the unanimous determination of the council that the interest of the country at this particu- lar time required that M. Delcasse re- tain the portfolio of foreign affairs. Ac- cordingly, at the conclusion of the council, M. Rouvier proceeded to the Quai d'Orsay, where he held an extend- ed conference with the minister of for eign affairs. The president of the coun- cil, voicing the wishes of President Lou bet and the ministers, earnestly be- sought M. Delcasse to waver in his de- termination When the president of the council came from the interview he stated to his colleagues that he bore a favorable impression of it's results. M. Deleasse, he said, had given no final an swer, but had promised to reserve his determination until tomorrow, when a final answer will be given. It is be- lieved that M. Delcasse will yield to the insistence of President Loubet and the president of the council.
 The motives leading up to M. Del casse's sudden determination to retire from the cabinet are primarily attribut- ed to internal controversies over the Moroccan question; and this to some extent has been seriously accentuated by similar controversies over French neutrality in the Far East. The oppo sition have been quick to seize upon both questions, and, headed by social ists and nationalists, have directed their criticisms against M. Delcasse.
 rfy1.a a;,ls lsef }fa;e particularly vehement during recent days on the Moroccan question, and this appears to have finally decided M. Delcasse to surrender the question into other hands. It is felt that his retire. 1nent now would be hailed in Germany as a German triumph, and this is one of the main considerations leading M. Rouyier to earnestly appeal to M. Del case to remain in the foreign office.
 The news of M. Delcasses intentions made a profound impression in the chamber of deputies, where it was first treated with incredulity. Later, how eyer when M. Deloncle Republican, questioned the government upon the neutrality question, and M. Rouvier re- piled instead of M. Delcasse, it was realized that the report had solid foun- dation. Several deputies stated that M Delcasse had sent a letter of resig- nation to the president of the council this morning, but that M. Rouvier had declined to accept it, saying that he would be obliged to present it to the council of ministers. It was, as result of this presentation to the council, that ! M. Rouyier persuaded M. Delcasse to withhold his final decision until to-mor- row. }@
 The announcement concerning M Delcasse's intention to resign was one of many incidents in 8 day of mucf anxiety throughout government guar. ters. Following close on the heels oi the complications with Germany over Morocco, the Franco-Japanese incident ssuddenly assumed serious proportions and unusual energy was shown in pre-. venting it's embroiling France in com. plications in the far east. In order tc secure. definite cooperation between three departments of the government namely, naval, colonial and foreign, g conference was held this afternoon be. tween leading representatives of eacf department. This brought about 6 clear understanding regarding the measures necessary for the mainte. nance of the neutrality of Indo- Chinese waters, and orders were sent to Cover nor General Beau to specifically report the exact location of the Russian Pa. cific squadron and whether it had ol had noa withdrawn from French wa. ters. Communications with St. Peters. burg led to orders being transmitted by the Russian government to Vice-Admi ral Rojestvensky to vigorously respec the neutrality of French waters. | was even stated that Foreign Minister Lanlsdorff would carry the question before Emperor Nicholas in order tt assure complete respect of French neu trality. MIX F.
 Probably the most significant deveI opment from the energetic measures