The San Francisco call., 1905-04-22
MiliSterDelCaSSeMay
Quit the French
Cabinet.
Colleagues Request Him to
Reconsider His De-
termination.
Declare That Interests of Country at
This Time Require That He
Retain His Portfolio.

PARIS, April 21.-After a notable SER
vice Of nearly eight years in the divis-
ion Of foreign affairs. TheophiIe Del
casse to-day informed President of the
Council Rouvier OF his desire and in
tention TO resign This announcement
came as e surprise and shock TO NJ.
Delcasse's colleagues Of the Cabinet,
who Immediately took steps TO en-
deavor to secure a reconsideration of
his determination. A Cabinet council
was held this evening al which M.
Rouyier, in the absence of NJ Del
casse, laid the situation before the
Ministers. It was the unanimous de-
termination of the council that the
interests Of the country at this time
required that NJ DeIcasse retain the
portfolio Of foreign affairs. Accord
ingly, at the conclusion of the council,
NJ. Rouvier proceeded TO the Quai
d'Orsay, where he held an extended
conference with the Minister of For
eign Affairs The president of the
council, Eoicing the wishes of PreSi-
dent Loubet and the Ministers, earn
estly besought NJ Delcasse TO retain
his place in the Cabinet
It is evident that NJ Rouvier's earn
est appeal caused N. Delcasse to
wayer in his determination. When the
President of the Council came from the
interview he stated to his colleagues
that he bore a favorable impression
OF its results. NJ. Delcasse, he said,
had given no final answer. but had
promised TO reserve his determination
until tomorrow. when a final answer
viii be given.
It is believed that NJ. DeIcasse will
yield TO the insistence of President
Loubet and the President of the Coun-
ell.
The motives leading up TO NJ Del
casse's sudden determination to retire
from the Cabinet are primarily attrib-
uted 10 internal controversies over the
MoroccaR question; and this to some
extent has been accentuated by SINH
lar controversies over French neutral
ity in the Far East. The opposition
has been quick to seize upon both
questions, and. headed by Socialists
and Nationalists, have directed their
criticisms against NJ. Delcasse. The
Socialist criticisms have been particu-
larly vehement during recent days on
the Moroccan question and this ap-
pears TO have already decided NJ Del
casse to surrender the question into
other hands. 1t is felt that his retire.
ment now would be hailed in Germany
as a German triumph, and this is one
Of the main considerations leading n.
Rouvier 10 earnestly appeal to NJ. Del
casse to remain in the foreign Office.
The news of NJ Delcasse's inten-
tions made & profound impression in
the Chamber of Deputies, where it was
first received with incredulity. Later,
however. when NJ. Deloncle. CR) ques-
toned the government on the neutral
ity question and NJ. Rouvier replied in
stead Of M. Delcasse. II was realized
tha+ the report had solid foundation.
Several Deputies stated that NJ. Del
casse had sent a letter OF resignation
70 the President of the Council and
that N. Rouvier had declined to ac-
cept ii, saying he would be obliged to
present ii 10 the council of ministers
II was as a result of this presentation
TO the council that NJ Rouvier per-
suaded NJ. Delcasse to withhold his
final decision until Tomorrow.