The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-26
FRENCH LEADER
 PREMIER BRAND
 RESIGNS MONDAY
Political Champion of the French Nation Says He
 Is Sick and Tired
WITHDRAWAL MAKES
 POLITICAL SENSATION
Bare Majority of Sixteen Received In Vote of Confidence Disgusts Both Briand and His
 Ministers

Paris, February 25.-Premier Briand | and the members of his cabinet will resign Monday They reached this de- cision this afternoon at a conference in the premier's office. when the po- iitcal situation was thoroughly can vassed from beginning to end. The bare majority of Is which the govern ment received last night in a vote of confidence in the chamber of deputies, following the premier's arraignment by the radical socialists, Louis Malvy and Paul Meunier, was a severe blow to the premier and his associates, who had been sustained many times in pre- vious crises by much larger votes. In the end. M. Briand declared that he was sick of it all"
 The only reason for waiting until Monday to present their resignations to the President is that the ministers wish to show their respect for the memory of their late colleague, Gen eral Brun, whose funeral will be held Monday morning.
 There is much uncertainty tonight as to what will happen, whether Pres. ident Fallieres. after taking counsel with the leaders of the parliamentary group, will ask M. Briand to stay in power, or whom he will invite to form a new ministry. Leon Vourgeois, for mer premier and ex minister of foreign aqairs. Raymond Poincare. ex-minister of finance Theophile del Casse, ex-for- eign minister. and former Premier Finite Combes, are among the names men toned, although it Is understood that M. del Casse is principally not liked by the President of the republic.
 Political Sensation
 The decision of the mir stry to with draw has caused a great political sen sation. The conservative newspapers are sounding a note of alarm.
 They declare that the course of ex treme radicalism is triumphing over sane and progressive reform. regarding the clerical issue. which was raised yesterday. as mere pretext to attain Brands downfall. They point out that 1t Is ridiculous to accuse the man wh q constructed the separation law of cler- realism. and now that the church and state are divorced, M. Briand has been merely following out general pro gramme of "appeasement."
 The vote in the chamber of deputies last night, therefore. is interpreted as the result of an intrigue among Briand' {; adversaries in his own party, who have been plotting his overthrow since the great crisis in the railway strike and blocking the premiers programme of arbitration in labor disputes In connec- tion. with public service corporations.
 Physically and mentally exhausted by several years of uninterrupted labors in ftnt, nxsnr rH tc ctVaRa rri ar FifaaIr to retire. Even now he Is discussing with his friends the delights of a pro- posed trip to the Mediterranean. It Is understood that M Pinchon, minister If foreign affairs, is equally determined 70 withdraw and would not accept a place in the new cabinet if it were proffered him.
 The Temps, in summing up the sit uation, planes parliament for taking too much interest In the railway employees, who imperilled the security of the coun- try and not enough in the measures de- signed to protect the nation from civil war.
 M Briand," says the Temps, "has the support of public opinion. His departure gives all Frenchmen food for grave re- fection, for France is menaced by moral disorder and a conscienceless parlia- ment."
 Briand Star Is Setting
 Premier Briand. for the first time in his brilliant career as the controlling ir- fluence in the government of France, finds himself on shifting sands. But be- yond the matter of his personal inclina- tions, there is the unquestoned weaken ing of the premier's power and of con- hdence in his ministry. The leader who has before survived many grave crisis and come out with a triumphant vote of the chamber of deputies last night es- caped censure of the government by a bare majority of Is votes.
 The socialists. who have never for given the premier for modifying the sx- treme ecclesiastical programme, which he championed when he first entered public life, have attacked him persist ently and at last nights session all but forced his immediate retirement
 Recently Briand was assailed jointly by the clericals and socialists. Last night he was charged with clericalism The discussion arose through interpellations, blaming the government for not having applied the laws against religious bodies with perhaps severity The onslaught was led by the radical socialists, Louis Malvy and Paul Meunier.
 For a time Briand fought back with his old-time vigor. defending every step of the government and declaring that the deep-rooted congregations could not be eradicated in few months but that the orders had not been reconstructed In the heat of debate he made the master stroke that he had before confounded his op- ponents, challenging the opposition that if 1t could not give the government it's full confidence to say so. as the ministry would not continue it's task undermined by petty intrigues
 The Vote
 The vote of confidence was 2S to 252.
 Following the adjournment of the cham Der the cabinet met at the premier's of- flee and considered the situation. Foreign Minister Pichon and Minister of Com merce DuPuy were for resigning at once. All the other ministers were opposed to an immediate retirement unless further developments should make this move imperative Briands personal wish was } to be free from the obligations of his office, but his responsibility to the parlia- mentary groups supporting him and the country persuaded him to remain for the present It was suggested cabinet coun- ell be held before President Falieries tomorrow, but the plan was not adopted. After a discussion that continued for six hours an adjournment was taken until 9 o'clock this morning.
 When they reconvened today the minis ters in conference of one hour dec.ued to postpone their resignations until after the obsequies of General Brun, the late minister of war. on Monday. The cab inet will meet at 1:3o o'clock Monday afternoon.