The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-07-21
DRAMATIC FALL OF
CABINET IN
FRANCE
Following Hot Debate Over Ma
val Scandals.
CLEMENCEAU'S MISTAK ES
Recalled AIseciras Specter and Was
Abandoned by Many of His Sup
porters

Paris, July 21.-The Clemenceau
cabinet fell suddenly last night under
dramatic circumstances at the con
clusion OF a violent debate over the
naval scandals extending over several
days.
NJ. Delcasse, chairman of the inves-
tigation commission, led the attack
upon the naval administration and es-
ecially during the incumbency of NJ.
Pelletan and NJ Thomsan, former min
listers of marines. But NJ. Picard wao
succeeded NJ. Thomsan had promised
in the name of the government 10
comlete a series of reforms both in
the administration of the department
and the methods of construction and
the Chamber was ready to vote con
hdence in the government when an in
cident occurred which changed ma
iority into a minority.
Premier Clemenceau WAC always
has been an adversary of NJ. Delcasse
smarting under the criticisms and
doubtless overconfident of a majority
which on July Is upon the general
policies of the government was 1872.
tainted the eX-minister of foreign af-
fairs who was thrown overheard by
the Rouvier ministry at the dictation
OF Germany during the crisis OF 1906
with having led France to humilia-
ton at Algeciras. The specter of
that chapter of Frances foreign his
tory In which Delcasse was sacrificed
was a fatal error Instantly there
was an uproar of dissent from both
sides of the chamber.
A duel of denunciation between NJ.
Clemenceau and NJ. Delcasse followed,
the premier losing ground at every
engagement.
The scene when the premier took
his seat was indescribable. Amid the
widest excitement the vote was TAX
en- and when it was announced that
the government had been beaten PIP
10 l76. Clemenceau clapped his hat on
his head, pulling il far down over his
eyes and stalked out of the chamber,
followed by the other ministers in to-
ken that he intended to resign.
NJ. Clemenceau went Immediately to
the Elysee Palace and told the story
to President Fallieres who seemed stu
pefied at the incident wnich caused
the fall of the cabinet, but he accept
ed the resignation of the premier and
his ministers
There is but one opinion in Paris
Notwithstanding that an old
parliamentary warhorse like Clemen-
ceau should have committed political
suicide by his awkwardness in recall
ing the Algeciras specter upon tne
eve of adjournment when the govern
ment was assured of a majority on
the naval question. The premier's ac-
ton drove about fifty members of the
Republican bloc into a combination
with the Right and Extreme Left, un-
horsing the man whose ministry has
been the longest in the history of tAe
Third republic, and who for three
years has been absolute master in
France.
The fall OF the cabinet was so I'M
expected that the political world is
completely at sea as to who will be
Clemenceau's successor at the head of
the government. The name of Leon
Bourgeois, former premier and former
minister of foreign affairs is most
frequently mentioned but ais age and
health are against him. NJ. BRAND.
minister of Justice, NJ Poincare for
mer minister of finance, NJ Milerand,
former minister of commerce, M. Pic
hon, minister of foreign affairs, NJ
Barthou, minister of public arks and
NJ. Delcasse are also mentioned in the
order named
The Socialists naturally are over
joyed at Clemenceau's downfall. NJ
Jaures the Socialist leader in the
Chamber said with Clemenceau dis
appears the most dangerous man in
the republic"