The Washington herald., 1915-10-14
DELCASSE QUITS
french CABINET
Tumult Follows Announce
ment Of Resignation in the
Chamber Of Deputies.
GOVERNMENT IS UPHELD
Vote on Resolution Of Conference
Stands 372 to 9. 1888 Not
Voting.
GOVERNMENT IS UPHELD
by c. F. BERTELLI.

Paris, Oct 13.-The first break in the
French war cabinet came today when
the resignation of Foreign Minister
Theophile Delcasse was announced in the
chamber of deputies.
Scenes of disorder followed. Repeated
| demands for the reasons for his resigna-
| tion. as we'll as for information as to the
cabinets Balkan policy. were refused by
Premier Viviani on the ground that he
could not reveal military and diplo-
! matte secrets which were not Frances
own
NJ. Viviani then demanded in effect that
the chamber give a blind vote of conf
! dence in the government
Another violent scene cnsued. in which
the Socialists demanded a secret session,
that they might hear the truth. During
| a speech by Pugliesi Cont. Bonapartist
deputy, the manifestations became SO vio-
lent that President Deschanel was forced
to suspend the session, which was not
resumed until Cont had left the tribune.
previous effort to end the session had
been made by turning off the lights.
Secret Session Voted Down.
The attempt to obtain a secret session
was beaten by only a few votes.
The vote on the resolution of confidence
was then taken and the government was
upheld by 3I2 to 9, while 1sS deputies ab-
stained from voting. While apparently
this was an overwhelming victory for the
government, it did not disclose the extent
of the opposition. Those who did not
vote were the leaders of the attack. and
they stated that they did not vote be-
cause the government had not presented
sufficien. explanation TO permit them
to vote !n.elligrhtly.
Premier Viviani told the chamber that
NJ Delcasse's letter of resignation had
first been offered two weeks ago, and
| that it was renewed at the time of his
visit to London last Friday. He added
that the most perfect accord exists be-
tween the minister and his colleagues"
Cries Of Read the letter. came from
| various parts of the house, while other
members called out mo! No."
The premier replied: mo one can COM
| pei me to read that letter. I affirm there
| is no disagreement between the minister
| of foreign affairs and the rest of the
cabinet"
Deputy Paul Painleve. president of the
marine committee, declared he was sad
dened to hear the premier indicate in
yelled language a divergence between the
cabinet and its minister for foreign af-
| fairs.
| Deputy Jules de la Haye appealed for
| harmony. saying:
| 1.-TWO perils confront the republic They
are the Germans and our own political
uuarrels For forty-five years you have
been seeking a man to govern YOU
Whom will you have. an Orleans or a
| Coburg?" cried a voice.
| Deputy de la Hayes plea was con-
tinued amid great confusion, in which
| the Socialists took an active part. Presi-
dent Deschanel endeavored to restore
| peace.
| Causes Widespread Comment.
| Minister DeIcasse's resignation has
caused widespread comment in diplo-
matte and parliamentary quarters.
owing to the prominent part he has
taken since the early part of the war
lin shaping the government foreign
nolicy, His retirement at the height
Of the Balkan crisis has caused much
surprise in spite of the fact that ru-
mors that he was to take the step have
been current for several days.
| For twenty-five years Delcasse has
been one Of the foremost of French
statesmen. To him, largely. has been
attributed the formation of the Franco
Rriti.h entente cordiale. Illness 10 one
OF the reasons given for his withdrawal
from active affairs at this critical time
He is said to be suffering from ner-
vous exhaustion due to the heavy bur-
iden of anxieties which he has borne.