The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-22
A CABINET CRISIS
Minister of Foreign Af-
fairs Would Resign.
This Meets So Much Opposition That
He Will Consider Day Longer.
Situation in Orient a
Factor.
Factor.
(By the Associated Press.) }

Paris, April 21.-After a notable
service of nearly eight years in the
direction of foreign affairs Theophile
Delcasse today Informed President Of
the Counci! Rouvier of his desire and
intention to resign.
A Cabinet council was held this af-
ternoon. at which NJ Rouvier, in the
absence of NJ. DeIcasse, laid the situa-
zion Refdre tISa ministers. 1t was
the unanimous determination of the
council that the interest of the coun-
try at this particular time required
that NJ. Delcasse retain the portfolio
of Foreign Affairs. Accordingly at
the conclusion of the council NJ.
Rouvier proceeded to the Quai
D'Orsay, where he held an extended
conference with the Minister of
Foreign Affairs. The President of the
council, voicing the wishes of Presi-
dent Loubet, and the minister's earn
estly besought M. Delcasse to retain
his place in the Cabinet.
It is evident that M. Rouvier's
earnest appeal caused NJ. Delcasse to
waver in his determination. When
the president of the council came
from the interview he stated to his
colleagues that M. Delcasse had given
no final answer, but had promised to
reserve his determination until to-
morrow when a final answer will be
given. 1t is believedthat NJ. Delcasse
will yield to the insistence of President
LOubet and the president of the coun-
Gil.
The motives leading UP to NJ. Del
casse's sudden determination to retire
from the cabinet are primarily at
tributed to internal controversies over
the Moroccan question, and this to
some extent has been accentuated by
similar controversies over French
neutrality in the Far East The OPP
position have been quick to seize upon
both questions and headed by social
lists and natiOnalistS, have directed
their criticisms against M. Delcasse. 1t
is felt that his retirement would be
hailed in Germany as a German
triumph and this is one of the main
considerations leading NJ. Rouvier
earnestly to appeal to NJ. Delcasse to
remain in the office.
The announcement concerning M.
Delcasse's intention to resign was one
fthe many incidents in a day of
much anxiety throughout government
quarters. Following close on the
heels of the complications with Ger
MANY over MOTOccO, the FrdncO-Jdp-
anese incident suddenly assumed seri-
Gus proportions and unusual energy
was shown in preventing it's embroil-
ing France in complications in the
Far East. Probably the most Signifi-
cant development from the energetic
measures adopted was the receipt of a
dispatch from Saigon, saying that i'm
periative orders had been given for
the disarmament of the Russian
cruiser Diana.
The anticipated debate in the
Chamber of Deputies over the ques-
ton of neutrality was postponed, ow-
ing to the Delcasse incident. The
only reference to the subject was an
inquiry by Deputy Deloniele as to the
neutrality question and the brief reply
from Premier Rouvier, who said:
Formal precise and repeated or
ders have been given our agents in
Indo-China to assure the absolute
neutrality of France in Indo-Chinese
waters"
1t was stated at the Foreign Office
that no representations of any kind
had been presented by Great Britain
concerning neutrality. At the same
time it is anticipated that some such
representations will be made