New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-19
Poincare Asks
Ribot to Form
New Ministry
Ex-Minister of Finance to
Consult Leaders Be
fore Deciding
NJ. Deschanel Declines
SAYS 1t Is His Duty to Remain
President of French
Deputies
NJ. Deschanel Declines

Paris. March 49, President Poincare
to-day offered Minister of Finance
Ribot the portfolio held by NJ. BRAND
as head Of the Cabinet VI. Ribot. who
was a member Of the War Council IN
the BRAND Cabinet, refused TO give
definite answer, however, to the Pres
ident's request that he form a new
ministry. saying that he must reserve
HE decision until he could consult
further with various members Of Par
Lament.
His conference with VI. Ribot was
the last Of several held with the vari-
Gus governmental heads by President
Poincare during the day/First he con-
ferred at length with Antonin Dubost'
President of the Senate, and with Paul
Dcschanel, President Of the Chamber
o. Deputies. With them he went over
in detail the situation created by the
rcsignation % the BRAND Cabinet
Deschanel Declines Post
he then received NJ. BRAND, and, fol-
lowing a consultation with him, asked
VI. Deschanel to consider whether he
could undertake the responsibility OF
forming a Cabinet on the principle of
a national union. VI. Deschanel re
Piled that he considered it his duty to
remain at his post as president of the
Chamber Of Deputies, to which he had
been called by the representatives o.
the nation.
In a last effort TO arrive at solu-
ton. therefore, President Poincare Of
fered the post TO NJ. Ribot, with the
result that nothing definite has yet
been determined.
On leaving the Elysee Palace NJ.
Ribot called on the presidents of the
Senate and Chamber Of Deputies and
". BRAND. With them and with sew
cral members of both houses of Parlla-
ment he discussed the political situa-
ton. 8.
The executive committee of the radi-
Gals and sOcialistic -adicals. the
strongest group in the Chamber. ana
TO which most Of The opponents of the
BRAND Ministry belong. met to-day
and decided to summon congress
party
Editors at Odds Over Crisis
Interest in the retreat of the Ger
mans on the Somme somewhat dlmin-
ished interest in the Cabinet crisis to-
day. Nevertheless. the French people
are deeply impressed with the political.
changes which are occurring.
The newspapers comment diversely.
The independents and governmental
organs dwell upon the coincidence Of
Premier Brands retirement with the
DEVELOPMENTS i'm the military opera
tions that must be regarded as the
fruits Of the patient and persistent
efforts Of the outgoing Prime Minister,
while the opposition press is divided
between a demand for men of greater
energy and a demand for arbitrators
who do not pretend to regulate every
thing.
"Aristide BRAND leaves power after
having shouldered the crushing respon-
sibility of Premier and Foreign Minis
ter for eighteen months" says the
"Natin." "He retires on the very day
when the Franco British armies gain
a victory rich in consequences, because
il marks the obligation OF the enemy TO
renounce all plans OF conquest before
the superior force OF our military or
ganizauon.
'"Not only does he leave France in a
military situation that iustifies high
est hopes, but he has. by his rare diplo-
matte qualities. assured the country an
unequalled rank in the world"
Crisis Only Discordant Note
LA Liberte,' commenting on the
good news from the front" points to
the Cabinet crisis as the only discord-
ant note and says:
at seems impossible for Parliament
70 put itself in unison with the nation
The very DAY that there appear the
first signs Of deliverance the govern
ment that prepared that deliverancC
/ disappears. Must we suppose that II
would have had better chances of re-
naming i'm power if our affairs had not
gone so well ,"
THE departure of VI. BRAND will bC
hailed with regret and surprise by the
masses" says the journal de'
Debats.' an spite OF particular checks
that were not all avoidable, he leaves
a situation which altogether is incom
parably better than that which he foun(
on taking power. His adversarie:
themselves have made direct avowal o.
that improvement by the growing de
sire they have manifested to take hi'
place Their desire for power woul,
have been much less ardent if th'
tempest of defeat had blown upon tn,
banners Of the Allies.
"M. BRAND has rendered the creates
IL ..l, -. -
scious. lie certainly enjoys the con
fr,rr, If Tho corrt~trf