Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-25


nations to President Millerand but
the president declined to accept
them.
The action Of the ministers was
the outcome of the refusal Of the
senate to proceed with the trial OF
Marcel Cachin and other Commun-
lists charged with illegal acts against
the French republic. NJ. Poincare in
formed the correspondents that he
interpreted the vote in the Senate
as proof of want of confidence in the
cabinet, which made it impossible
for the ministry to act against COM
munist plots.
The ministry remains in office,
President Millerand holding that the
vote of the Senate was purely juri-
dical and without political effect.
Immediately after the meeting OF
the Senate, M. Poincare called a
council of ministers. A brief discus
sion took place. and then the prem
Ter and his colleagues proceeded TO
Elysee Palace, to place their reslg-
nations in the hands of the president.
The Senate, sitting as high court
in secret session voted relative 10
the trial of Communists on the foi-
lowing points:
First-can the court declare 1tscil
competent or incompetent;
Sccond-should the question OF
competency be referred to a COM
mittee;
Thirds the court competent?
The Senate voted in the affirma-
tive on the first question and in the
negative on the last two. the maj
vote being 14S to 1O4.
After the vote was taken the hlsh
court formulated its decision in SUD-
stance: =
"Thc matter before the court n
not OF n nature reserved for It's eN-
animation hence it is not necessary
for the court to proceed with tne
hearing. The case against NJ. Cachih
and the others should therefore be
sent before a competent body for It's
decision"
The Senate's vote was complete
surprise. While it was known tha1
several Senators disapproved or the
use of the high court, heretofore re
served for outstanding figul such a
General Boulanger, CaillauX and Nal.
Wy, TO lTN VI VIC NhiApAN -
Cachin and his associates, who it was
held. could be dealt with more cheap
~ and less deliberately by ordinary
court, it was not believed that ma
iority of the senators took this view.
No one was more surprised than
the ministers. who. after the Cham
Der rose went home to prepare to at
tend a reception in honor of Pasteur.
When NJ. Colrat learned of the vote
he hurried to NJ. Poincare and told
him that, having, as minister of JUS
tice. urged the trial of Cachin before
the high court, the Senate's vote
amounted to a disavowal of him. and
he was bound to resign.
NJ. Poincare replied that in his
opinion the Senate's decision involved
the entire cabinet. it having jointly
undertaken to repress communist ac-
tivities. He added that he was about
to summon the ministers to decide
upon the course to adopt. After a
brief discussion the ministers en-
dorsed the premier's view
Next he handed President Millerand
the Joint resignation of the cabinet.
President Millerand argued that it
was understood that the senate was
sitting in judicial capacity and that
the vote must be considered in the
light of rulings from the bench and
ought not be considered as votes of
confidence or censure of the govern
ments general policy. He therefore
decllned to accept the designations.
1t is expected that the general mol.
ICY or the government will. be raised
III the senate at the earliest opportun.
lty. President Millerand is so con-
iident his view is correct that he will
ioave rs planned tomorrow night for
visit to Alsace Lorraine.
AS a matter Of fact the other min
listers entirely disagreed with M.
i,olncare and NJ. Colrat and remarked
tiat the governments policy over and
oner again mad been endorsed by the
:. houses and was not in question.
!. was merely a question of procedure
when the high court could decide in
full sovereignty without AFFECT. ~
authority of the cabinet. Thev re-
called the enthusiastic recention \,
!oincare mad had few hours before
4 the chamber of Deputies. SHOWING
me degree of confidence the govern
nhenl policy had inspired among tho
representatives of the country
PREMIER Polncare was inmoy,h,,
anu wanted all the ministers to ac-
company him to EIysee.
president Millerand said At ONO.
.iat ne saw the gravest obioctions ~
me resignation of the ministrr ~
polhtcd out that the whole co,,,tr,,
Mouiu De surprised and disturbeJ hv
eilc unexpected withdrawal ~ ~
government, to which it bsd ~
'in.eu us support and gratitude
nidhs' after a moments reflection
W. foincare gave way and consent;
~ Withdraw the designations and Tho
Incident was closed. A 'iic
Premier Poincare has been At 4ho
mead of the French ministry since
January Is, 1922, when he succeedod
Arlstlde BRAND. NJ. Poincare's III
rection of foreign affairs has benn
lrarkeo Dy unusual firmness toward
nne,inan!' the occupation of the
Ruhr being carried out under his d.
rection. ' ~
This policy has led to much CD.
position from elements in Great
britain and other allied countries as
well as in France. A debate has
been in progress in the French
chamber of Deputies during the
last few days relative to the Poin-
care policy in the Ruhr. This has
been marked by bitter attacks from
the Socialist element, to which N.
Poincare has maintained that the
R1hr occupatio would be unswery-
ingly carried out.
The resignation followed a par
ticul. rly bitter attack in which his
opponents pointed out the unproduc-
fiyenpsS of the measures taken in