The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-03-09

Paris. March Like a bolt from n
clear sky the Rouvier ministry was de-
feated in the chamber OF deputies to-
night and Immediately resigned. The
cabinet crisis comes at a most dra-
matte moment when the Franco-Ger-
man contest has reached q decisive
stage. and may exert an important ad-
verse 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 sue
ceeded in holding only 234 votes while
the various elements in opposition
clericals. socialists and nationalist
united and polled 267 votes, thus plac-
ing the ministry in a minority OF thirty
three. Premier Rouvier with all his
colleagues. Immediately proceeded to
the foreign office. where a joint let
ter Of resignation was prepared. Later
M. Rouvter presented this letter to
President Fallieres who accepted the
designations. The president announc-
ed his intention OF consulting the pres
1dent OF the senate and chamber OF
deputies tomorrow relative to the for
nation OF new cabinet. The debate
in the chamber of deputies was upon
the bloody riot yesterday during the
taking of an inventory of a. church in
the village of Boeschepe, resulting in
the death of a manifesant. Various
orators severely criticised the govern
ments course asserting that It threat
ened to precipitate a religious war
fare. Premier Rouvier responded.
THE government has the duty to
apply the law. 1t will apply 1t without
weakness, but also with the prudence.
tact and wisdom consistent with pub
lie tranquility. I ask the adoption of
resolution approving these declara-
ttons OF the government" The resolu-
ton was thereupon put to a vote and
defeated. The result was due to q
combination OF opposition influences
The vote was more expressive Of per-
sonal antagonism to the ministry than
of opposition to church inventories.
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 a new cabinet has
been appointed. The decision result
ed from g. disparity OF the opinion ex-
pressed in the chamber Of deputies rel
ative to the method OF carrying out
the law providing for the separation
Of church and state. Had the cham
Il
the government, the cabinet would
have been compelled to continue to
apply the law, but the downfall OF the
| ministry having clearly occurred
through disapproval Of the methods
hitherto adopted, which on the one
side were considered as too violent and
on the other side as too indulgent, n.
Rouvier and his colleagues thought ft
| better to discontinue the enforcement
of the law. The promulgation OF reg
ulations, however, will occure in the
ordinary course, as specific dates are
therefore laid down In the bill Prior
| TO the cabinet crisis. the Franco-Ger-
man controversy over Moroccan con-
| troll seemed to be I'm the balance with
the inclination strongly toward an
agreement All depended upon Ber-
| Inns last word II this was a frank
| concession of a Franco-Spanish police
| without impossible conditions then
| agreement was assured. but IL the con-
| cession involved further conditions.
| France whose pride was already much
4, aroused, was prepared TO reject It.
| The foreign office today stated the
! situation as follows: The reported
| German concession has not been COM
| municated to US and We are therefore
| unable definitely to state what action
| may be taken thereon. One thing.
| however. can be stated with absolute
positiveness. namely: IL the German
concession on the police question Is
| conditioned upon international super
| vision, II will not be accepted
This statement preceded the cabi-
| net crisis. After that event no one
was able to indicate the course Of the