Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-08
France Is Shocked by
Dramatic Event
in Capital
Moroccan Situation In
tensiied by Sudden
Change
President Falleres Accepts Resigna-
elons-Reported German Conces-
sIon Has Not Yet Reached
French Capital
..y Associated Press.

..y Associated Press.
I.IARIS, March 6.-Like a bolt from
a clear sky the Rouvier ministry was
defeated in the. chamber of deputies
tonight and Immediately resigned.
The cabinet crisis comes at most
dramatic moment, when the Franco
German contest has reached a decisive
stage and may exert an important
adverse influence on the Algeciras con-
ference and on European affairs.
The defeat of the government came
on a comparatively minor debate over
the church disorders. The government
succeeded in holding only 234 votes,
while the various elements in opposi-
tion-Clericals, Socialists and National
ists-united and polled : votes, thus
placing the ministry in d minority OF
83.
Premier Rouvier, with all Of his col
leagues, Immediately proceeded to the
foreign office, where joint letter or
resignation was prepared. Later NJ.
Rouvier presented this letter to Presi-
dent Fallieres, who accepted the resig-
nations. The president announced his
intention of consulting the presidents
of the senate and chamber of deputies
tomorrow relative to the formation of
g. new cabinet. The debate in the
chamber of deputies was on the bloody
riot yesterday during the taking of an
inventory of a church in the village of
Boeschepe, resulting in the death of
manifestant.
Various orators severely criticised
the governments course asserting that
it threatened to precipitate religious
warfare.
Rouvier Declares Himself
Premier RouVier responded:
1.-THE government has the duty to
apply the law. 1t will apply it without
weakness, but also with the prudence,
tact and wisdom consistent with public
tranquility. 1 ask the adoption Of a
resolution approving these declarations
of the government"
The resolution was thereupon put to
a vote and defeated. The result was
due to combination of the opposition
influences. The vote was more eX-
pressive of personal antagonsm to the
ministry than of opposition to the
church inventories.
Having returned from presenting to
President Fallieres the resignation of
the ministry NJ. Rouvier was sur
rounded in the lobby of the chamber
of deputies by groups of members,
who expressed their regret at his aban-
donment of office. NJ. Rouvier dis
played not the slightest emotion. Re-
plying to one of his followers he re-
marked:
IT regarded it a a point of honor to
fulfill the task 1 had undertaken. The
chambers vote has relieved me of
burden, the weight of which had be-
gun to make itself felt
"T do not regret ii ."
Responding to the declaration of an
other deputy that he might have car
ried opinion with him. Nj. Rouvier said:
81 should have received $50 votes
had l declared for more vigorous ac-
ton; but the sentiment Of the chamber
was against the cabinets remaining in
office until the election and the struggle
would have begun again tomorrow. 1t
was better to finish Immediately"
Church Question Suspended.
The meeting of the members of the
cabinet at the foreign office lasted half
an hour. After exchanging views
with reference to church inventories,
1t was decided to suspend operations
in that regard until new cabinet has
been appointed. The decision resulted
from a disparity of the opinions ex-
pressed in the chamber of deputies re-
lative to the method of carrying out
the law providing for the separation of
church and state. Had the chamber
voted a motion of confidence in the
government the cabinet would have
been compelled to continue to apply
the law, but the downfall of the min
istry having clearly occurred through
disapproval of the methods hitherto
adopted which on the one side We're
considered as violent and on the other
as too indulgent, M. Rouvier and his
colleagues thought it better to discon-
tlnute the enforcement of the law. The
PRONUNCIATION of regulations, however,
. will occur In the ordinary course, as
specific dates therefor are laid down
in the bill.
Prior to the cabinet crisis, the
Franco-German controversy over
Moroccan control seemed to be in the
balance, with the inclination strongly
toward an agreement. All depended
upon Berlin's last word. If this was
a frank concession of Franco-Spanish
police without impossible conditions,
then the agreement was assured; but
If the concession involved further con-
ditions France, whose pride was al
ready much aroused, was prepared to
reject 1t. The foreign office today
stated the situation as follows:
German Concession
1.-The reported German concession has |
not been communicated to us and we |
are, therefore, unable definitely to
state what action may be taken there
on One thing, however can be stated |
with absolute positiveness, namely, if |
the German concession of the police |
question is conditioned upon interna- |
tional supervision, it will not be ac-
cepted."
This statement preceded the cabinet |
crisis. After that event no one was |
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