The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-08
-PO|NCARE MAY.
LOSE HIS HOLD.
On MINISTRY
Political Observers Place
Great Importance in Trip
of Loucheur to England.
President and Premier
At Outs on Policies

PARIS, April business inter
ests of France, according to all indi-
cations, are dissatisfied with the
Ruhr adventure and at odds with
Premier Poincares government, be-
cause of the failure of the occupa-
ton of the German Industrial area
to produce reparations.
Despite denials from all parties
concerned, the belief persists that
Louis Loucheur. Frances wealthiest
man, and President Millerand may be
seeking to force a change OF min
lstrics.
Loucheur has just returned from
London, where he conferred on the
Ruhr with Bonar Law. the prime
minister; Stanley Baldwin, chancel-
ior of the exchequer; David Lloyd
George and other members of Parlia-
ment. In doing so, Loucheur, con-
sidered one of Premier Poincares po-
litical enemies, went over the
head of the premier.
1t is considered significant that
when Loucheur returned to Paris he
first reported to Millerand. who Is a
bitter political opponent of Poincare,
and then, after a lapse of ~ hours,
called on the prime minister himself.
Represents Steel Industry.
Loucheur represents the steel in
dustries of France, although he has
stated that he relinqushed all
his directorships when he started on
his political career. In view of the
fact that Poincare was formerly the
lawyer for the French steel trust"
the present developments indicate
that his former employers no longer
have confidence in him.
MIlerand is one OF the strongest
Presidents the republic has ever had.
When he took office it was only on
the agreement with the French Sem
ate that he be given wide powers.
Millerand declared that he did not
want to be in the position Of the
King of England title and no
work to do.
1t has been reliably reported that
Millerand called Andre Tardieu just
before the Ruhr occupation and
promised to make him premier. GUST
ing Poincare, IL the former could pro-
duce scheme for getting money
from Germany without invading the
industrial area.
Offered Premiership.
Tardieu, it is said. was unable to
form a scheme that Millerand IA
Vored. so Poincare was allowed to
give the orders to march in the Ruhr.
Many are of the opinion that MIL
lerand may have offered Loucheur
the premiership If he was able to
find way out of the bad situation
in the Ruhr and plan to extract
PREPARATIONS from Germany.
The visit of Loucheur to London
during which he may have presented
his plan to the British government,
strengthens the belief in some quar-
ters that Millerand is grooming
Loucheur as Poincares successor.
Loucheur, the most abused and ad-
mired man in France. did not partici-
pate in French politics until the war.
when he was called to supervise the
manufacture of munitions.
He has frequently been accused by
his enemies of using his government
al connections to forward his own
private business interests. AL
though his enemies in the Chamber
of Deputies taunt him with cries
OF "Loucheur aIl-of- gold" they listen
atentively whenever he takes the ros-
evils of the day.
Loucheur has been AGAINST the
French occupation of the Ruhr. In
1921, when the BRAND government oc-
cupied the Ruhr approaches-Dussel-
dorf. Duisberg and Ruhrot--Loucheur
publicly said that he had Weighed
the question of Ruhr occupation very
carefully and was convinced that the
benefits would be Just about equal
to its losses-an operation blanche"
II is known that Loucheur is a
partisan of a gradual economic ran
procurement with Germany. French
poiitlclans would not agree to
scheme he worked out some time ago
which provided that the business men
OF France and Germany should get
.ose.ner ana settle. in their own
manner. the vexing Preparations nroh.
lem. ~ W.