San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-07
PO|NCARE HAS
/ A PRECAR|OUS
/. HOLD ON JOB
~
Tardieu Points Out That
+ Elections Are What
Y Saved Him.
NO TIME TO CHANGE
Majority Votes Confidence
i Rather Than lmperil
J Policies.
NO TIME TO CHANGE
BY ANDRE TARDIEU

Copyright, 1924, by ConsoI. Press Ass n
Paris, April 7.-Raymond Poincarc
is again president of the Council OF
Ministers. OF course nobody doubted
that he would receive a substantial
majority. considering the imminent
general elections, so the figures do not
reveal the surprise and disappaint-
ment felt in many quarters at the
manner in which the cabinet was re-
constructed.
At any other time it is likely that
this cabinet, made up largely of his
former opponents would either have
been l..sct on the first vote or would
have received such n small majority
as 10 be utterly unavoidable.
But the election campaign begins
in two weeks. In such circumstances
cabinet crisis was unthinkable. The
majority, despite is discomfort, thinks
it prudent TO lean on NJ. Poincare in
the coming struggle. The writer great
~ fears that their hopes will be sad
~ disappointed. But between now
and the elections. there are important
: events on the calendar and despite
NJ. Poincare's long statement of pol
icy, it is impossible 10 foretell what
turn they will take. First, there is
the question of French security on
which conversations lave just begun
between London and Paris. How will
it end: Time alone can tell.
Finally, the double question of rep
arations and the Ruhr, which are
linked with the experts reports which
are about TO be published. Here again
the French people are completely in
the dark.
Ready TO Bargain on Ruhr.
NJ. POincare continues to insist that
he will not evacuate the Ruhr until
France is paid. But apparently he
is ready to abandon all the economic
side Of occupation in exchange for
other guarantees. 1t is his plan TO
hold a pledge, but not to exploit it?
1t is known that the agreements be-
tween France and the Ruhr magnatcs
expire April ID and have not been
renewed and that the German govern
ment is opposed top their renewal.
What effect will this grave question
have on the other two?
Thus it will be seen how many I'M
known factors there are in the Euro
pean situation and it is in the midst
of all this UNCERTAINTY that the Ger
man elections, May 4. and the Fernch
elections. May IL, will be held.
In such circumstances, what prophe-
cy is possible? We can only watch
and wait. Uncertainty reaches every
where and the future is in the hands
of chance.
AS for VI. Poincare himself, it is
rather disconcerting to see him entrust
the execution of laws recently passed
TO men who, few weeks ago. brand
ed these laws as unjust, futile and
dangerous. NJ. Poincare has been
placed in the minority on the ques-
ton Of general policy. for the pension
reform bill on which he fell is di-
rectly linked with the fiscal policy of
the last few months AMI it was the
financial situation which led Poincare
10 reject the pension reforms which
he had accepted in December. But
lie declined TO regard the vote as pre-
venting him from accepting power
again. However. he believed that it
obligated him to drop sixteen or
eighteen ministers who had stood with
him in the fiscal battle in which he
declared tie c0unt-y's salvation was at
stake.
Appoints Former Enemies.
Moreover in replacing these min
listers he returned to several ministers
who had ardently opposed him in that
battle. Thus he came back before
parliament. having got rid of those who
supported him and surrounded by those
who were his bitterest enemies. par
ticularly Marshal Locheur and Vim
cent de Jouvenal. Naturally this
transformation produced general dis
content. As for the new ministers.
although politicians have a right to
change their minds. it appears that
they fhave somewhat overdone it
such conversions as these are un-
usual.
The majority in the chamber on
which the new ministry rests, seems
TO be in a difficult situation despite
the vote on Thursday for, in order to
get his new laws through. NJ. Poincare
had promised those who stood with him
forming a hollow square around him
that they would be rewarded BY his
support in return.
But where do they stand today.
when within this hollow square stand
ing beside their chief. they see leaders
of that minority which only yester.
day NJ. Poincare adjured them TO com.
bat with all their strength?
EADTu CIIDC NHVCTVEN