Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-08
ROUVIER CABINET RESIGNS
French Ministry Defeated on Minor Resolu-
tion Over Church Disorder
CRISIS COMES At INoPPoRTUNt TIME
Changes I'm Government May Exert
Important Adverse Influence
Moroccan Settle
ment.

PARIS. March Like a bolt from clear
sky the Rouvier ministry was defeated in
the Chamber of Deputies tonight and inn
mediately resigned. The cabinet crisis
comes at a most dramatic moment, when
the Franco-German contest has reached
decisive stage. and may exert AN inn
portant adverse influence on. the Algecras
conference and on European affairs. The
defeat came on a comparatively minor
debate over the church disorders The gov
eminent succeeded in holding only 234 votes,
while the various elements in opposition
clericals, socialists and nationalists-united
ana polled 267 votes, thus placing the
ministry in a minority OF thirty-three.
Premier Rouvier with all of his col
leagues. Immediately proceeded to the For
elgn office, where a joint letter of resigna-
ton was prepared. Later NJ Rouvier pre-
scented this letter to President Fallieres. who
accepted the designations. The president
announced his intention OF consulting the
president of the Senate and Chamber OF
Deputies tomorrow on the formation of a
new cabinet.
Debate ON Riot In Chinn.
Tie debate i'm the Chamber OF Deputies
was upon The bloody riot yesterday during
the taking Of an inventory of church in
the village Of Boeschepc, resulting In the
death of - manifestant
Various orators severely criticised the
governments course. asserting that it
threatened to preciptate religious war
fare
Premier Rouvier responded: The govern
ment has the duty to apply the law. II
will apply it without weakness, but also
with the prudence, tact and wisdom con-
81
adoption of resolution approving these
declarations of the government"
The resolution was thereupon put to a
vote and defeated. The result was due to
combination OF opposition influences.
The vote was more expressive of personal
antagonism to the ministry than of opposf
tion to church inventories.
Having returned from presenting TO Pres
ident Falieres the resignation of the min
istry NJ. Rouvier, was surrounded in the
lobbies of the Chamber of Deputies by
groups Of members who expressed their
regret at his abandonment of office. NJ.
Rouvier displayed not the slightest emo
tion. Replying to one of his followers he
remarked: Il regard it as point OF
honor to fulfill the task | had undertaken.
The chambers vote has relieved me of
burden the weight of which had begun to
| make itself felt
Neither Extreme Satisfied.
The meeting of the members of the cab
! met at the Foreign office lastei half an
hour. After exchanging views with ref
erence to church inventories it was de-
| cidcd to suspend operations I'm that regard
4 until a new cabinet has been appointed
| The decision resulted from disparity OF
/ the opinions expressed i'm the Chamber of
Deputies relative to the method of carry
! ing out the law providing for the separation
Of church and state. Had the chamber
voted a motion of confidence in the govern
ment the cabinet would have been COM
pclled to continue to apply the law. but
/ the downfall Of the ministry having clearly
| occurred through disapproval of the meth
ods hitherto adopted, which on the one side
We're considered too violent and on the
other side too indulgcnt, NJ. Rouver and
! his colleagues thought il better to dis
continue the enforcement of the law. The
PRONUNCIATION Of regulations, however, will
occurs in the ordinary course, specific
dates therefor are laid down in the bill.
VIII Anect Morocco settlement.
| Prior to the cabinet crisis the Franco
German controversy over Moroccan control
/ seemed to be in the balance with the in
/ clination strongly toward an agreement.
| All depended upon BCrlin's last word. If
this was frank concession of a Franco
Spanisch police without impossible condi-
tons then agreement was assured. but If
the conditions involved further concessions
France whose pride already much
aroused, was prepared to reject IT, The
Foreign office today stated the situation as
follows:
The German concession has not been
communicated TO us and we are therefore
unable definitely to state what action may
he taken thereon. One thing however.
can be stated with absolute postiveness.
I namely: III the German concession on the
police question is conditioned upon intcrna-
iioual supervision ii will not bc accepted"
This statement preceded the abinet
crisls After that event no one was able to
indicate the course OF the government
It is generally believed that NJ. Rouvier
until his successor is appointed. will con-
tinuo to carry on the same policy as hith-
erto adopted, which has received the ap-
proval of the Chamber OF Deputies on sew
eraI occasions. The instructions already
given to NJ. Revolt remain valid. as il is
thought internal politics should not be per-
mitted to interfere with Frances foreign
policy and NJ Rouvier desires to leave
the future foreign minister entire liberty OF
action should complica tions arise at Alge-
ciras.
Ministry Formed Four Months Ago.
The cabinet of NJ. Rouvier was formed No
vember T., 1865, when NJ. LOubet was presi-
dent of the republic. When NJ. Fallieres
was inaugurated last month the cabinet
formally rendered its resignation, but al
the request of the new president il re-
mained in Office. II is constituted as fol-
lows:
Premier and foreign minister Nj. Rouvier
minister Of the interior, NJ. Dubef; min.
lister of war, NJ. Ettenne; minister of ma,
? rine NJ Thomson. minister OF commerce