Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-04-14
Foxy Premier's Maneuvers
Compels Powerful Party 20
Make Definite Stand-Must
Take Part in Formation of
Cabinet Oh Weaken it's Ranks
Block Move to Raise Legal
Money Limit to 45,000,000,-
600 Francs

Paris, April 13.-(By A. P.)-The
ministerial crisis is entering upon
the fourth day and the only net re-
suit of three days consultations be-
tween President Doumergue and the
most prominent politicians of the
Left Parties has been to put it
squarely up to the Socialists, wheth-
er, with 1O4 deputies in the cham
ber holding the balance of power.
they intend to enter a cabinet led
by Aristide BRAND and assume
some of the responsibilities of gov
ernment.
NJ. Brands maneuvering has left
the Socialists no way out; they must
decide tomorrow and announce eX-
actly where they stand. NJ. BRAND
has already fastened upon them the
responsibility of upholding the for
nation of a cabinet in time of stress
with momentous problems confront
ing parliament.
1t was expected that NJ. BRAND,
who had been asked by the president
of the republic to form a cabinet.
would give his answer today to NJ.
Doumergue, but he encountered
such difficulties that he was impell-
ed to ask for more time. He in
formed the president that he could
not give a definite answer until to-
morrow afternoon at the earliest, as
he is awaiting the decision of the
National Council of the Socialist
party regarding their willingness to
participate in the new government.
The idea of forming forty eight
hour ministry for the purpose of
presenting before parliament for it's
ratification a bill authorizing the
Bank of France to raise the legal
limit of circulation from 41,000,000.
600 to 45000,000,000 francs, which
was earnestly discussed throughout
the day. has been abandoned.
NJ. BRAND convinced proponents Of
the plan that it was an inopportune
move, contending that the country,
officially informed by last weeks
statement that the bank had exceed
ed the legal limit of circulation, had
not become panicky, and could face
the situation for another week.
Close friends Of BRAND say that
the negotia tions conducted by him
were aimed perhaps more for the
purpose of weakening the Socialists
and wrestling from them the great
power which they exercised during
M. Herriot's tenure of office than
actually forming a cabinet, which
he knew would be doomed within a
short time. They declare that he
has maneuvered the Socialists up
against the wall. no matter whether
he forms a cabinet with or without
them. and Furthermore, that if NJ.
Painleve or some other man from
the Left groups heads the ministry
with their cooperation. the Social
lists will be greatly weakened by the
events of the last three days. This
party held a conference today and
its members are about evenly divid-
ed as to participation of Socialist
representatives in the government
The situation is stationary tonight.
The probabilities are that in the
event of Brands refusal a cabinet
will be formed by NJ Painleve, or
some other of the Left groups, NJ.
BRAND not being averse to accept
ing the ministry of foreign affairs in
such cabinet. The crisis bids fair
to last we'll into the week before any
cabinet can come before the cham
ber with a ministerial declaration
and asking for vote of confidence.