The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-07-23
Land In Ferment on Fall of
CIemenCeau Ministry.
RAISED ALGECIRAS SPECTER.
Delcasse Leads Dramatic Debate
That Caused Overthrow of Man
Called the Nations Alb
solute Master.


matte circumstances.
The resignation of the ministers came
at the conclusion of violent debate
over the canal scandals. extending
over several days. NJ. Delcasse, chair
man of the investigating commission,
led the attack upon the naval admins
tration, especially during the incum-
bency of NJ. Pelletan and NJ. Thomson,
former ministers of marine. But NJ.
Picard, who succeeded NJ. Thomson,
had promised in the name of the gov
ernment to complete a series of re-
forms, both in the administration of
the department and the methods Of
construction, and the chamber was
ready to vote confidence in the gov
ernment when an incident occurred
which changed complacent majority
into baftled and raging minority.
Premier Clemenceau who always
has been an adversary Of NJ. Delcasse,
smarting under the criticisms and
doubtless overconfdent of a majority
which on July Is upon the general pol
icies of the government was 1872,
taunted the ex-minister of foreign af-
fairs, who was thrown overheard by
the Rouvier ministry at the dictation
Of Germany during the crisis Of 1905,
with having led France to humilia-
tion at Algeciras.
The specter of that chapter Of
Frances foreign history, in which Del
casse was sacrificed, was fatal error.
Instantly there was an uproar Of dis
ci1 nf hn nI, oy,,l,n
Delcasse flung back the taunt in Gle
menceaus face with bitter words, de-
clarng amid cheers that France had
gone to Algeciras in the interest Of
peace.
Hot words were banded back and
forth. 1t was a veritable duel be-
tween two enemies. NJ. Delcasse in
timated that Clemenceau had inspired
articles in the foreign press during
the crisis, but the latter emphatically
denied the imputatiOn. The premier
seemed for the first time in his par
1iamentary career to lose his head.
Finally NJ. Delcasse, as he was entering
upon an explanation of the situation
of 1905, drew himself up proudly and
said:
81 shall say nothing further on that
subject. l have nothing to fear. Moth
ing in the past, nothing in our COM
mon memories of twenty-five years
embarrasses me. IF I look back I see
I have left something besides ruins"
Then turning directly to Clemenceau
he said: you were president of the
naval investigating commission Of
1904. Your unsparing attacks upon
every government during twenty-five
years seemed sufficient guarantee that
you would find the root of the evil.
What were the results. l ask?'
M. Clemenceau, now evidently in a
rage, tried to parry the thrust by re-
turning to the charge.
"Your policy as foreign minister"
he shouted, "led us to the greatest
humiliation France has experienced in
twenty years"
Another storm of hostile cries arose
several deputies crying, "It is an out
rage to say that" But the premier
tried to assume his old cynical air
"Oh, no false Indignation, l pray you"
he exclaimed. "You brought us to the
verge of a war without military prep
aration."
Again the tumult was redoubled.
"Yes,' he shouted above the roar "the
whole world knew that the ministers
of war and Vie navy, when the ques-
ton was pitt to them, replied that
France was not ready. have not hui
inflated France. Delcasse has done
that"
The scene when the premier took his
seat was indescribable. Amid the wild
est excitement the vote was taken,
and when it was announced that the
government had been beaten 212 to 176
Clemenceau clapped his hat on his
head, pulling It far down over his
eyes, and stalked out of the chamber,
followed by the other ministers, in
token that he intended to resign.
M. Clemenceau went Immediately to
the Elysee palace and told the story to
President Fallieres, who seemed stupe-
fed at the incident which caused the
fall Of the cabinet, but he accepted the
resignation of the premier and his
ministers.
There is but one opinion in Paris to-
day, and that is astonishment that an
old parliamentary warhorse like Gle
msnceau should have committed DO
litical suicide by his awkwardness in
recalling the Algeciras specter upon
the eve Of adjournment, when the gov
ernment was assured Of a majority
on the naval question. The premier's
action drove about fifty members of
the Republican "bloc" into a combina-
tion with Right and Extreme Left,
unhorsing the man whose ministry
has been the longest in the history OF
the Third Republic and who for three
years has been absolute master in
France.
President Fallieres will consult with
the presidents of the chambers today
"a to Clelnenceau's successor in ae
ccrdance with the usual custom. Tha