New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-21
Ministerial Crisis Over.
Swallowed by Other
Events
BRAND Rejected Place
Deputies Speak in Favor of
Ribot's Selections and
Pledge Support

Paris. March 2O.-The ministerial
crisis was so completely overshadowed
by other events that there has been
little comment on the new Cabinet. Il
was we'll enough received. and it Is
considered adequate for the task, but
probably never before did a political
event of such importance leave the
public so Indifferent.
Alexandra Ribot, in setting up the
Cabinet in forty-eight hours, is under
stood TO have beaten all speed records.
and his task was not an easy one, for
the list changed many times before II
became permanent. Many persons ap-
preached by him refused.
Premier Ribot asked former Premier
BRAND to remain as Foreign Minister,
but NJ. BRAND pointed out that having
had to deal with the Allies with the
double title of Premier and Foreign
Ministershe would not have the same
weight in diplomatic affairs with only
the latter title. He also thought that
in view of the hostility of certain
groups it would be preferable to keep
him out Of the combination.
Leon Bourgeois, former Premier, was
then approached, but refused on the
ground of i'll health, but he agreed TO
take the portfolio of Labor The
Premier himself assumed the portfolio
of Foreign Affairs.
All sections of Republican opinion
arc represented in the new Cabinet.
Premier Ribot belongs to the Republi-
can union; Albert Thomas, the Min
lister of Munitions, to the Unified So
cialist group; Rene Niviani, the Min
lister of Justice; Professor Paul Pain
leve. the Minister of War, and Maurice
Viollette, the Minister of Subsistence,
to the Socialistic Republicans.
Louis j. Malvy, Minister of the In
terror; Jules Steeg, Minister of Public
Instruction.; Georges Desplas, Minister
of Public Works; Etienne Clementel,
Minister of Commerce: Fernand David,
Minister of Agriculture; Leon Bourge-
ois. Minister of Labor, and Daniel
Vincent, Under Secretary Of Aviation,
belong TO the group of Radicals and
Socialistic Radicals, while Andre Magi-
not, Minister OF the Colonies, belongs
to the Republican left, and Joseph
Thierry, Minister of Finance, to the
Democratic Left.
The new government is to be asked
TO explain the manner in which it pur-
poses to utilize in the best way the re-
sources of France and those of her
Allies. A notice Of an Interpolation
to this effect was given to-day by
Deputy Louis Dubois.
Secret Session Not Foreseen
VI. Dubois said he would carefully
avoid everything pertaining to the
military operations proper. he also
said that he did not foresee the event
uality of secret session.
A number of Deputies who came TO
the Chamber of Deputies to-day spoke
favorably of the composition of NJ.
Ribot's Cabinet. Virtually all of them
affirmed that they were disposed. in the
interests of a patriotic union, to facil-
itate governmental action in order TO
continue TO give more impulse to work
for national defence and to solve in the
best interests of the country economic
problems of the present time.
Under these conditions it is probable
the new ministry will have strong
majority in the Chamber of Deputies.
The Cabinet met to-day, and it was
decided that all the Under-Secretaries
of State in the BRAND Cabinet would
be retained. Afterward the Cabinet
discussed the terms of the ministerial
declaration, which will be read in the
Chamber of Deputies tomorrow. Later
the ministers called on President Poin-
care, who signed a decree constituting
the new Cabinet.