Evening star., 1922-04-28

e. PAUL DEsCHANEL.
By the Associated Press.
PARIS, April 2S.-Paul Deschanel
former President Of France. died this
afternoon at the age Of sixty-hve.
NJ. Deschanel was taken i'll with In
fuenza a. few days ago, and on Wed
nesday 1t was announced that com.
plications had developed and his con
dition was serious.
After his resignation from the
French presidency in September. 1920
NJ. Deschanel lived in retirement fol
several months. His condition i'm.
proved steadily, and late that year II
was announced he had completely re-
covered his health. In January Of last
year he became a candidate in the sena-
torial elections, being returned for
Eure ct Loire on January 3. he began
attending the senate sessions the fol.
lowing May, and in January OF this
year was appointed a member OF tne
senate foreign affairs committee to re-
place NJ. Poincare when the latter as.
sumed the premiership.
Elected February 1s, 1920.
NJ. Deschanel. who was tenth Presi-
dent Of France, entered upon sew
en-year term In that office on Feb
ruary IS, 1920. after having beer
chosen by the national assembly the
preceding January, by the bigges,
majority since the election Of Thiers
the first president Of the present re-
public. Statesman and author and
one of the most brilliant pubic
speakers in France, NJ. Deschanels
ment from public life Of former
Premier Georges Clemenceau.
The campaign had been most SEN
sational and bitter. NJ. Clemenceau
then at the height Of his power as the
French war premier and one of the
neeotiators Of the treaty with Ger.
many, was. up until few days be-
fore the election. believed to be the
only candidate who had chance fol
the ONCE. Catholic and socialist
votes In the French parliament; now
ever. combined with those Of the po c
saI 1i.isai enemies e the Tiger" elected
On May "a. 1890. a few months afte,
taking up his residence at the Elysee
Palace as the successor Of Poincare
at night from Paris to Montbrison to
dedicate monument fell from a
moving train while attempting to
raise a window in his sleeping com
partment. He was supposed to have
been only slightly injured. There
expressed almost daily solicitudes fol
his health. After passing weeks OF
convalescence in Normandy, he re-
turned to Paris in June to preside al
the council administers.
Forced to Resien,
Later 1t was announced that he haG
suffered a complete breakdown, anG
that his resignation was inevitable
The following September the presi.
dent sent letter of resignation, tt
Premier Millerand together with {
message to the senate and chamber
of deputies, which were soon followed
by the election of his successor.
i. For nearly forty-five years NJ. Des
chanel had been in French public life
He was president of the chamber o
deputies when elected to the highes
post as first citizen of France. Pre-
viously he had been head of tn
French parliamentary commission OIL
foreign and colonial affairs.
NJ. Deschanel was born in 1857, il
Brussels, to which city his fathe
went after being exiled from Franc
in 1851 for having published a pam
phlet entitled Catholicism and So
cialism." When he was two year
old the boy returned to France witt
act of amnesty, following a recanta
tion of his views.
Entered Public Service EARLY.
The young man was educated Il
Paris, and when only twenty year
old he entered the public service, be
coming secretary to NJ. de Marcere
then minister of the interior. He be
came secretary to Jules Simon, presi
dent of the council, the followin,
year. and served until 1885, when h
was elected member of the chambe
Of deputies from the department o
Eure-et-Loire.
In 1886 he was named vice presi
dent of that body. and two years late
was elected president. a position h
held until 1902. when he was de
feated for reelection.
NJ. Deschanel was later appointe,
president Of the parliamentary com
mission on foreign affairs and col
onies, his work in that body contin
uing until 1909. In April. 1910. N
Deschanel returned to the. chamber
becoming its president in 1912. H
remained in the chair continuousl,
untll mis- eiect1on TO the presidency
In 1913. he was urged to become
candidate for president against Ray
mond Poincare, but po1led only eight
cen votes at the election. In tn
midst of his political and public la
bors, M. Deschanel found time t.
write a number of works on politica
and social problems.
Nine. Deschanel was formerly Mile
Germaine Brice. daughter of Rem
Brice.. member of the chamber o
deputies for Ill-et-Vilaine.
InEERE pI ANS tn pASS