New-York tribune., 1921-01-16
BRAND Is Called to Form
Cabinet After Peret
Fails; Poincare Insists
on His Policy of. Force
Former President
Dominates Senate
Would Break With Allies
and Send Military Ul-
timatum to Germany
By Ralph Courtney

Copyright. 1921. New York Tribune Inc
PARIS, Jan. 15.-The French politi
cal crisis reached such an acute stage
to-day with the failure of Raoul Peret
to form ministry that the position OF
President Millerand himself is endan.
eered. 1t is possible that the French
President will consider it his duty tc
appeal direct to the public against the
political movement headed by Raymond
Poincare which threatens to plunge the
world into new wars.
Millerand could no longer remain
President Of the republic if the Cham.
ber Of Deputies repudiated him after
such move. There is not only strong
sentiment in favor of Poincare in the
Chamber, but the Senate also rs lean
ing to the side of the former Presi.
dent.
Perct, while trying to form his Cab
met, consulted the heads of the four
leading groups in the Senate, and it is
said that they all advised him that
Poincare should direct Frances for
eign policy.
Millerand Realizes Danger
Despite this opposition Millerand
asked Aristide BRAND to endeavor to
constitute ministry. In doing so he
was fully aware that he was running
in the teeth of all those elements which
regard Poincare as the only. man who
can save France. Yet such are the
grave consequences that may arise for
Europe and the world if Poincare comes
into power that Millerand, 1t is re-
ported, Is prepared to risk his presl-
dency in publicly denouncing Poin-
cares policy of force if that step should
become necessary.
When Peret returned to Millerand
this morning to inform him that he
was unable to obtain Poincare's CO.
operation unless the latter should be
permitted to direct the country's for
eign policy, the President asked Peret
what his verdict on the situation was
Peret told Millerand he personally was
convinced that the Presidents policy
was the. right one and suggested that
the opportunity of forming a ministry
SuOulu Oc OIClCu W DAAduNs
In contrast to the Poincare policy
q Millerand- BRAND program would be
to regulate affairs in Europe in agree
ment with the Allies. They would ap-
ply to the question of reparations the
same system that was followed at Spa
in dealing with Germany's coal de-
liveries and disarmament. Although
this arrangement was bad in many
ways from the French point of view
it did produce definite amount
of coal and made Germany disarm to
a certain extent This also is the
only policy which is approved by Eng
land.
Spa Program Approved
1t is reported that Great Britain
has sent formal assurances to the
French government that it supports
her entirely in the policy inaugurated
at Spa. Millerand purposes to apply
the same procedure to reparations
presumihg that he can carry British
support here TOO, and as soon as pos
sible fix reasonable figure for annual
reparation payments, which it is GER
tain that Germany can meet.
Poincare's program, on the other
hand, consists of the use of force. If
he were Premier, France presumably
would send an ultimatum to Germany
that she must within given time pay
such and such a sum of money and
deliver such and such an amount of
goods under threat of occupation of
her territory by French troops.
France has sufficient strength tc
carry out Poincare's program. She
possesses an army of nearly 100000
men, and public opinion probably
would support military action.
1t is not too much to say that the
fate of France hangs on the present
political crisis. 1t is possible that if
Poincafe should be actually called to
power his actions would be consider
ably milder than the plans he has out
lined in his speeches and writings, but
they inevitably would end in armed
(Centlnucd on page four)