The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1920-06-03
FRANCE FACES
PRESIDENTIAL
CRISIS, REPORT
Desahanel Is Too III to Per-
form Duties and May Be
Succeeded by Millerand,
Says Gable.
az RALPH

BY RALPH COURTNEY.
Copyright. 1920. by New York. Tribune.
Paris, May 31.-France is faced
with a presidential crisis which~issex-
pected to develop at an early date.
Leading French politicians no
longer even pretend to believe Presi-
dent Deschanel is able to continue to
act in his official capacity.
The possibility that he must give up
his office has caused great commotion
in political circles because it is point
ed u that the constitution Of the
country does not make provision. for
a vice president.
In the event Of M. DeschaneIs dlti-
mate resignation, it is not believed
likely that Raymond Poincare would
resume the office.
The next president of France in hat
event would undoubtedly be ether
Premier Millerand or Leon Bourgeois,
who is now the presiding officer of the
League Of Nations.
AT every presidential election in re-
cent years NJ. Bourgeois was suggest
ed for the place, but the eminent sem
ator and academican always refused
to run for the office.
Every probability at this time.
points to M. Millerand as the likely
successor to the presidency.
Crisis at ~Inopportune Time.
A presidential crisis in France could
not have come at a more inopportune
time, as this country is in the midst
OF negotiations with Germany on
which not only the existence OF
France but also the future of Europe
depends.
M. is said to be SUFFERING
from an acute anaemic condition OF
the brain, combined with a fatigued
state OF the arteries. which has rem
sdered him extremely impressionable
n liable to irritation from the
slightest cause.
He became violently angry, for in
stance, when cabinet ministers and
physicians told him after his recent
fall from a moving railroad train that
he had to leave Paris for a rest. =.
Finally he insisted that if he went
away it must be to a retreat close to
the capital.
Since the decision was made that M.
Deschanel leave Paris he is said to
have been greatly depressed. He went
for a ride this afternoon with Nine.
D~eschanel, but they returned to the
Elysee after TN unusually short out.
ing.
Special Guard Maintained.
1t is said the president keeps want
ing to his lonely wanderings
about the city of Paris.
Precautions have been taken to pre-
vent him slipping out of the palace
and a. guard is maintained to watch
the back way through the garden.
1t is reported that it has been the
presidents habit up to the time CT his
accident, when he began to be
watched more closely. to leave the
ElySee alone and stay out as long as
10 hours.
The French government is anxious
to prevent NJ. Deschanel in his pres
ent condition from undertaking state
functions in which it would be neces-
sary for him to speak in the name of
France. 1t is said the government is
responsible for every utterance of the
president. Although in theory the
French president has much power, in
practice he la zone al all, and the
ministers are the responsible heads.
This is one ee the things which, is
said to have irritated M. Deschanel
greatly since his election to the presi-
dency. He has been known to COM
plain to visitors thai he could ring the
bell as much as he liked but that no
one would obey him.
Can't Force Him to Resien.
The great difficulty of the situation
is that although the president has no
rial power he has the greatest pre-
negatives. No law is valid, no nominal
ton is legal, no decree is enforceable
without the presidents signature. The
whole machinery of the French state
stops moving if the president ceases
to function.
Not only does the French constitu-
tim provide no vice president, but
there is no way to force the president
to resign. If he insists on remaining
in office, nothing can be done against
him.
French public opinion, however.
is not likely to tolerate a president
who is incapable of acting as the
head of the state, and in the end NJ.
Deschanel will be persuaded to re-
sign.
It is believed by well informed per-
sons that the crisis will be reached
within the next two or three months.
Many Consider MiTlerand.
Besides Millerand and Bourgeois.
former Premier Clemenceau might
also be considered for the presidency.
although political leaders believe
Clsmenceau could not be elected.
They suggest that if France warted
to turn to a military president the
choice undoubtedly would fail on
Marshal Foch.
STRIKE ON AT BROOKLYN.
New York Nav al -0ff;o;.1 ae4L-