New Britain herald., 1915-12-04
DELCASSE LEADING
 VERY QUIET LIFE
Since His Resignation From
 Cabinet Of France

(Correspondence of The Associated Press)
 Paris Nov. 6-Since his recent sud-
 Sden resignation from the ministry of
 foreign affairs, M. Delcasse has been
 living very quietly in his modest quar-
 ters in Montmatre. His side of the
 story leading up to the resignation
 has not been told, and he is too worn
 out with the hard work of the war
 to make him cumulative in spreading
 before the public his version of the 'rupture. There is a general desire
 also, to avoid controversies which
 may create the impression that gov
 ernment officials are at cross-pur-
 poses. And so the passing out of this
 prominent figure, who was probably
 better known in England and Ameri-
 ca than any man in the ministry is
 likely to pass as one of the incidents Of the war.
 Most ministers are surrounded by
 a political group, which. when their
 leader meets reverse, quickly takes
 up his cause and presents his side
 to the public. But Delcasse has never figured prominently in political
 and parliamentary circles, and there - 10 Io SIOup ready to take up the
 cudgel in his behalf. About all that is known is that French and Eng dlsh diplomacy was rather slow in realizing the German plan of secur- ing an ally in the Balkans which finally eventuated in Bulgaria's join Ing the Central powers. This brought an outburst of French public senti- 1 ment, and Delcasse passed out as hav- 1 ing been the one who should have 1 foreseen and averted this German move to the southeast. Just how he could have averted it is not clear but the chief criticism is that France and England remained passive while the German game in the Balkans was being played with great activity and : success.
 Ability Noted Abroad.
 Some of Delcasse's friends think he is too strong a man to remain out of the government very long, at this time of need for strong men. They say that when the Balkan storm has blown over, Delcasse will be able to ask his successors what more they have done than they expected him to do, in checking German intrigues. The English sentiment would prob ably me favorable to his returning. as his Balkan course was largely the ] saSne as that of the British Foreign office. The English also have a warm admiration for Delcasse as one of the chief figures in forming the en- tente cordiale between England and France. But his strength, and the recognition of his ability as a diplo- matist, have always been greater t abroad, notably in England, Russia f and America, than at home.
 The personal side of M. Delcasse's life has it's pecu1iarities, and this has S been quite a factor in bringing about l l his resignation He works and lives very much to himself, and makes no conf1dences. Even his associates ill the ministry knew little or nothing of I how he was shaping foreign policies z relating to the war. He seldom join- , ed them except at cabinet meetings when the discussion was formal and , he<was in the habit of announcing re- i suits rather than inviting discussion { of what had better be done on various ' pending questions. Knowing his ten dency to- work out his own plans he was given free rein and there was ( no team work on foreign affairs At the Foreign office he wrote many of the despatches of instructions much as Re would do in his private affairs, 1 often without keeping copies, and seldom lett1ng thelr purport be gen. l erally known among officials. Grad |ually it came to be felt in the minls- try that Delcasse was too exclusive in his methods of carrying on the for [eign branch. This had good deal to do e,in bringing about the recent |change.
 Systematic Habits Differed. DeIcasses systematic habits also differed much from those of other officials. This led to a comparison between the habits of Millerand, the war minister, and Delcasse, the for (eign minister. Millerand is man lof intense application. He gets ab- |sorbed in his work at the war office |forHets his meals, stays until late (hour at night attending to various "details, and finally finds himself in Ia state of scrupulous regularity. He Dgets up very early in the morning Innd is one of the earliest arrivals at Rhe Foreign office. Nothing inter- Fupts the regularity of his lunch Epr other meals. He does his work within fixed hours and leaves early. 'Iie goes straight home, taking no part in the restaurant, theater or Fsay life. He goes to bed early, and has standing order that he is not to be awakened, no matter how ur- gent the business may be. This was
 n marked contrast to some of his fablnet associates, who were on call l 3ngRt and day on anything urgent in
 helr branches of war work.
 AS minister of foreign affairs Del fasse had at his disposal the splendid private apartments at the Quay d
 prsay always set aside for the head