San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-30
SEESPOL|T|CS
IN PO|NCARE' s
!. RESIGNATION
'~~
Writer Points Out Possible.
Intentions Of French
Premier. ."
IS CLEARING DECKS
Embarrassing Members Of
Cabinet Can Be Dropped
Conveniently. 3
IS CLEARING DECKS
BY WILLIAM BIRD.

BY WILLIAM BIRD.
Copyright. 1924. by Consol. Press Assn.
Paris, March 29.-King Carnival
is definitely dead.-"M icareme" festi-
val which has been Partisan tradi-
ton for centuries, was definitely abol-
ished this year when the government
refused to appropriate subsidies for the
pageant and forbade confetti throw
ing.
But as if in compensation for this
wantoa suppression of mid-lenten re-
joicing it was decided to stage comic
cabinet crisis TO brighten the holiday.
Premier Poincare exits in a rage
through one door and re-enters smil-
ingly through another and everybody
laughs. That is how it appears to the
superficial observer, but there is some
thing more serious in this than meets
the eye.
Although very little has leaked to
the public, it is well understood in
well-informed circles that the nego-
tiations for Franco-German economic
collaboration have been proceeding
rapidly during the time the Dawes
Young experts committee has been in
session. The precise terms at which
the Negotiations are attempting TO ar
rive are unknown TO the writer, but
the general lines Of the proposals are
these:
Poincare Only Man for Job.
To affect an arrangement whereby
German coal and coke resources can
be combined with Frances iron de-
posits in Lorraine. thus turning the
whole Ruhr district into one unified
steel producing area without a rival
in Europe. Under such a scheme. it
is argued, there would be such a ire
mendOus surplus of production for ex-
port that rtparations payments upto
a very considerable figure could be
paid out of this alone.
1t is held by French negotiators rep
resenting the Comite des FORCES. which
is a consortium OF the principal
French metallurgical interests, that
NJ. Poincare alone is capable of secur-
ing adoption and ratification of this
plan. which, if all goes well, will be
public property before the French eiec-
tons May II.
But unfortunately election signs
bave been pointing 10 a decided left
ward swing and so NJ. Poincare, who
has shown marked leftTGrd leanings
in recent months was more than de-
lighted to seize this opportunity to
drop overheard certain embarrassing
members of his cabinet and thus re-
forming his lines for the ELECTORAL
campaign.
Threat From Millerand.
Meanwhile, President Millerand has
issued statement of capital import
ance indicating that if the country at
the election fails TO support the pres
ent cabinets domestic policies, he will
take such action as he may Judge
proper. This may mean one of
two things: Either resignation or proc
lamation Of q dictatorship.
The latter course has been urseA
on President Millerand for many
weeks and the President is credibly
represented as favorable to it, but NJ.
Poincare has resisted it and has in
sisted that the elections would prove
the public was solidly behind the gov
ernment's policy based on its broad
lines. He is believed to rely largely
on the expected reactionary victory at
the German elections May 4, which,
if it comes off, would undoubtedly
have the effect of strengthening the
French conservatives as it would seem
TO indicate the growth Of the German
revenge menace.
But actually both the German and
French conservatives are at present
working for an economic understand.
ing which will mean money in both
their pockets. This is regarded as
especially desirable in view of Bel
gums swing toward Great Britain
in the last few weeks. Therefore. as
things stand now, conservative vic.
tories in France or Germany, or both.
would not necessarily mean increased
dagenr OF war but would seem to In
dictate rather tendency toward put
ting both countries fortunes in the
hands Of big business interests in NE
formation Of continental bloc des-
tined eventually to eliminate England
as a continental power.