New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-13
Object to Retention of M.
Ribot in the Gov
eminent
Poincare Renews
Painleve Request
Asks Minister to Try Again
to Recast
Cabinet

rARIS. Sept. Paul Painleve,
Minister of War, had failed to form
new ministry and returned the man
date to President Poincare at l o'clock
this morning. The President asked NJ.
Painlcve to continue his efforts and
he asked for time for reflection over
the situation. 1t is understood that NJ.
Painlcve will again try to construct
ministry.
NJ. Painlcv6's first combination proved
even more abortive than did that OF
NJ. Ribot, the retiring Premier, and
collapsed from the same causc-name-
ly, the exigencies of the Socialists.
What those exiGencies are is not eX-
actly known.
NJ. Painleve had completed his list
yesterday afternoon and his success in
forming a ministry was regarded as
foregone conclusion. At 10 o'clock last
night the new ministers assembled at
the Ministry Of War. At IL p. m. Al
bert Thomas, Socialist member of the
War Council ard Minister of NUM-
tions, and Deputy Alexandra Narenne,
who had been FAMED Minister of Puo-
lie Instruction, left the War Ministry.
In reply to inquirers they said: at is
nothing but q little difference which
certainly will DO settled in half an
hour"
Ministers Fail to Return
The ministers did not return, how
ever. until an nour and half after
midnight. Their absence was due, ac-
cording to reliable information, to the
necessity of consulting NM. Renaudel,
Hubsrtrouger. Weber and Moutet, the
permanent delegates charged by the
Socialist party to watch the Cabinet
crisis.
A quarter of an hour later the two
Socialists again left the ministry, say
ing TO reporters: I'VE withdraw deli
nitely on account of the general compo-
siton OF the ministry"
The other minister's elect continued
their deliberations. Shortly before l
o'clock this morning Premier Painleve
received the newspaper men and said:
IL was charged by the President with
the task of forming a Cabinet Of ma
tional union which should comprise the
elements belonging to all parties. As
the result of incidents arising at the
last moment the union failed. Under
the circumstances ! am going to the
President to relinquish the mandate
which he confided in me-"
According to the "Matin," NJ. Thomas
refused TO collabOrate in the Cabinet
because the retiring Premier. l.. Ribot,
remained IN, the Foreign Off"
Thomas Objects to Rioot
When the new ministers assembled
last night II. Thomas arose and said:
Eve cannot agree to form part of a
Cabinet which includes NJ. Ribo.. At
a moment when we refused our sup
port to VI. Ribot as Premier and For
eign Minister on account of his home
policy, which we judged too indulgent,
and because OF his foreign policy, which
We considered ineifeC~ 4, we could not
collabOrate with him while he holds
that same portfolio of Foreign Affairs.
Besides, Premier Painleve did not
keep US advised as TO the negotiations
looking TO the collaboration of VI. Ri
bot. Consequently, we are unable to
deliberate on this question with our
party. ! cannot, then, personally con-
tinue in the Cabinet without consulting
the opinion of my friends"
Both NJ. Painleve and VI. Varenne
sought to dissuade NJ. Thomas from
leaving the Cabinet, but after a sharp
passage of arms between the two So
cialists they both left the War Ministry
and went to the Ministry of Munitions
and laid the situation before the dele
gates. The delegates upheld NJ. Thomas
and instructed the two ministers 10
withdraw from the Cabinet.