Evening star., 1925-11-26

gressives. Then the Action Liberale,
which has for its purpose the recon.
CLING of the Catholic Church and the
state; otherwise supporting the pres
ent constitution.
To the Presidents left, facing the
center aisle, sit the Radicals-divided
into several blocs, but all in opposi-
ton to the Clericals of Action Liberale
First are the ''socialistically inclined
Radicals, championing government
ownership of industry, railroads,
mines. ETC., but supporting the con-
stftution. These include such leaders
as Deputy Caillaux, who, as minister
of finance, recently tried to arrange
the funding of the debt to the United
States. Clemenceau is of this bloc.
Farther to the left sit the Radical
Socialists, including such distinguished
leaders as Poincare, BRAND and Mil
lerand. The latter two men have been
read out of the Socialist party, be-
cause they dared TO enter coalition
ministries with non-Socialist members,
but they persist in maintaining So
cialistic principles.
Still farther to the left are the Ex-
treme Radicals, who border on Com
munism or Sovietism.
The "blocs" sometimes group under
| three general parties-the Conserv-
atives Monarchists, generality, the
| there is little party unity. while there
are sometimes nine blocs in the
Chamber, opposing each other.
France Is sometimes called the
Mother of Socialism, hence the present
tendency to enhance socialistic con-
troll.
Last Tuesday the newly arrived
Soviet ambassador from Russia was
about to be officially and very cere-
moniously received at the Palais
Elysee by President Domergue The
ambassador requested that the ma
tional band of the Republique Fran
caise should play the "Internationale"
the music of Red Revolution-upon
his arrival at the Palais. He was in
formed that it would play the Mar
seillaise,'' but that no French national
band would play the "Internationale."
The ambassador appealed to the min
lister of foreign affairs, NJ. BRAND.
who told him. emphatically, that his
demand would not be accorded. The
Russian left in a towering rage. only
to be followed with official notice that
he would not be received at all at the
Palais.
France changes its ministry oftener
than does England From 1850 to
1919 ETSld1lu Ildu Only l. prime II1ln-
listers; France had the same number
from 1900 to 1914. From the adoption
of the present French constitution in
1873 to 1914 France had so ministries,
only four of which lasted two years
and most Of them only few months.
When a new premier assumes office
in France his first act is to issue a
long declaration" Of his policies, well
knowing that, in all probability, he
vii Ia Of
to the middle Of his announced plat
form. Senator Doumer, who is now
in the act of trying to form a minis
try, must face a demand Of the So
cialists that not less than Z of the
Ia portfolios must be given to Radical
Socialists. All other "blocs" are ready
to oppose him at the first opportunity.
In England the cabinet officers are
controlled only in a general way by
Parliament: they introduce, practical
ly, all general measures, and the party
in power votes as unit in supporting
the measures of their cabinet. In
France the Chamber Of Deputies die
tates to its ministers in all details.
In France, at any time, an oppo.
nent may introduce an 'interpella-
tion," without first asking the con-
sent of the ministry. This is ostensi.
after 1t has aroused debate, some op-
ponent moves the order OF the day."
meaning that they have had enough
of the minister's defense and will turn
from it to the regular business
polite snub requiring the ministry to
resent it by resigning.
A ministerial crisis may not be so
upsetting as appears on the surface,
for 1t Is so commonplace an event that
1t upsets no function of the govern
ment, which Is carried on by trained
clerks. 1t usually results in the re-
tention of some Of the ministers under
q new premier. or Of the same pre-
mier, with new personnel in his cabi-
net.
lCopyright. 1928. by Paul V. Collins.l