The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-08
GOVERNMENT is
SQUARELY ROUTED
Religious Warfare in Republic Is
Not Improbable, and Adverse
Influence On Algeciras Con-
ference and European AT
fairs Is Most
Serious.
tBy Associated Pres-.)

PARIS, March Like a bolt from a
clear sky, the Rouvier ministry was de-
feated in the Chamber Of Deputies to-
night. and Immediately resigned.
The Cabinet crisis comes ut Il most
dramatic moment, when the Franco-Ger
man contest has reached decisive stage.
and may exert an important adverse In
ilucncc ON the Algeciras conference and
on European affairs.
The defeat Of the government came on
n comparatively minor debate over the
church disorders. The government sue
cccdcd in holding only 23i votes, while
the various elements in opposition-cleri
Gals. sociulists and nntionalists-un
and polled 267 votes. thus placing the
ministry in minority o: thirty-tlirce.
Premier Eouvier. with all his colleagues,
Immediately proceeded 10 the Foreign Of
flee, where joint letter of resignation
was prepared. Later NJ. Rouvier pre-
scnted this letter to President Faliieres.
who accepted the designations. The Pres
ideut announced his intention of consult
ins the Presidents of the Senate and
Chamber of Deputies tomorrow relative
10 the formation of n new cabinet.
Bloody Riot Starts Debate.
lie uBDdtt III tils vi INpAtiSS
was upon the bloody riot yesterday during
the taking OF an inventory of "a church
In the village OF Boeschepe. resulting III
the death of a manifestant.
Various orators severely criticised the
governments course asserting that 1t
threatened 10 precipitatc religious war
fare.
Premier Rouvier responded: The gov
ernment 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. ash;
the adoption of resolution approving
these deeiara tons of the soyernment-
H The resolution was thereupon put 10
vote and defeated The result was due
TO a combination OF opposition influences.
The vote was more expressive of per-
sonal antagonism TO the ministry than OF
opposition to church inventories.
Downfall of Ministry.
The meeting of the members of the
cabinet at the foreign office lasted half
an hour After exchanging views with
reference to church inventories. it was
decided TO suspend operations in that
regard until Il new cabinet has been
appointed The decision resulted from
n disparity of the opinion expressed in
the Chamber of Deputies relative to
the method of carrying out the law pro-
viding for the separation of church and
State. Had the chamber voted mo-
ton OF confidence in the government. the
cabinet would have been compelled to
continue to apply the law. but the down.
fall of the ministry having clearly oc-
Cured through disapproval of the meth
ods hitherto adopted, which, on the one
side We're considered as too violent and.
on the other side, as too indulgent. NJ
Rouvier and his colleagues thought It
better to discontinue the enforcement
of the law. The promulgation of regu-
lations, however. will occur in the ofdi-
nary course. as specific dates therefor
are laid down in the bill.
Looks Badly For Agreemnt.
Prior to the Cabinet crisis the Franco
German controversy over Moroccan con-
troll seemed to be in the balance, with
the inclination strongly toward an agree
ment. All depended upon Berlons last
word. II this was a frank concession OF
a Franco Spanish police. without impos-
sble conditions. then agreement was as
sured. but II the concession involved fur
ther conditions, France, whose pride Was
already much aroused. was prepared to
reject it. The foreign office to-day stated
| the situation as follows.
s'The reported German concession has
| not been communicated to us, and we are,
| therefore. unable definitely to state what
action may be taken thereon. One thing,
| however, can be stated with absolute pos
| itiveness. namely: If the German conces-
| sion on the police question is conditioned
| upon international supervision, it will
not be accepted
, This statement preceded the Cabinet t
/ crisis. After that event no one was able
| to indicate the course of the government.
rruuu nJiJrn lErnnnal