The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-08
FRENCH PREMIER FORGED OUT.
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE DENIED
AFTER CHURCH Law DEBATE.
Whole Cabinet Then Resigns-Foar ina
Governments Overthrow May Erect
Delicate Moroccan Negotiations Now
Pendlng-Chamber's Vote q Surprise.
Special Cabs Despatch to The SUN.

NotO Ou' ~
Special Cabs Despatch to THE SUN.
PARIS. March Prime Minister Rouvier
and the members OF his Cabinet resigned
to-day following a debate in the Chamber
OF Deputies on the Governments applioa-
ton of the law regarding the taking OF
inventories Of Church property. Nj.
Rouvier demanded a vote Of confidence,
which was defeated. 27a to 234.
The fall of the Government. which held
Office for little more than a year, was imme-
diately due to the killing OF a butcher yes
terday when the authorities were seeking
to take an inventory of the Church property
at Beeschepe, Department du Nord, and
to an unexpected coalition of its political
adversaries with the Clericals and Socialists,
whose respective grounds for hostility to
the Government are contradictory. The
C~lericals attacked the Ministry for brutality,
while the Socialists attacked it for weak
ness.
The result was a general surprise. 1t
was not until the close of the debate that
the Ministry appeared to be endangered.
Even M. Ribot, who led the attack, favored
the application of the law which led to the
tragedy at Beeschepe, although he de-
nounced the manner Of its application,
The lobbies OF the Chamber and political
resorts continued to be thronged by ex-
cited politicians until a late hour. Aston
ishment at the result and speculation as
to the future we're the engrossing discus
sions. Nothing can be said yet as to who
will be NJ. Rouvier's successor. Gossip at
a late hour fixed on NJ. Poincare as the one
most likely to succeed him, with NJ. Mile
rand as Minister OF the Interior and M.
Bourgeois as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
President Fallieres has formally accepted
the resignation Of the Cabinet. He is
trusted as an experienced Parliamentarian
to deal adequately with the crisis, but the
situation Is viewed with considerable mis-
givings in many quarters.
What will be the effect Of the overthrow
Of the Cabinet at the moment when the
Moroccan conference has reached its most
critical stage2 That is the question upper
most in the mind Of the country's leaders.
1t is generally recognized that the position
at Algeciras and the delicate relations
betweenFrance and Germany have hitherto
operated to curb the attempts of the OPP
position parties to Gust the Government,
which more than once lately escaped the
fate that has now overtaken it, and many
Moderates regret that consideration OF the
national interests did not check its OPP
ponents, at least until the foreign outlook
was clearer.
Meanwhile the unrest in the country.
owing to the enforcement Of the separation
law, adds to the difficulty Of the unfortunate
situation. Some politicians are inclined
to attribute the impotence of the deputies
to the desire Of some Of them to stand
we'll with their constituents in view Of the
elections, which will be held in April.
They realize that part of the country is
in a ferment owing to the Church policy
and do not wish to be identified with it, so
that when seeking reelection they will be
able to meet reproaches that they are against
the Church by pointing out that their votes
contributed to the downfall Of the Govern
ment when it overstepped the limits.