Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-19
STEEG CONFIDENCE
POSTPONES CRISIS
Fall of New French Cabinet
in January Regarded as
Almost Certain.

PARIS, December 10 (P).-Parlia-
ment adjourned today until January
10. Thus for brief while at least
Theodore Steeg remains the premier
Of France and his ministry continues
as the French government by the
margin Of seven votes which it re-
ceived on a vote of confidence in the
Chamber of Deputies yesterday.
BY PAUL SCOTT MoWRER.
BY Radio to The Star
PARIS, France, December 19-The
seven hours wrangle in the Chamber
Of Deputies last night resulting in a
majority Of seven votes for the new
Steeg government, thanks to the fact
that SO Deputies of the Center alb
stained from voting, means that the
French political crisis is postponed until
after the Christmas holidays.
Following the sensational resignation
OF five underSecretaries prior to the
voting, the Steeg combination turned
out to be complete revival of the old
Left Cartel. The Socialists voted solid
ly in support Of Premier Theodore
Steeg and his Liberal ministers. Sew
eral Center Deputies also voted for the
government. 1t is noteworthy in this
connection that there are five under
secretaryships vacant, and it is said that
these were promised before the vote to
ar laasf On TapfaY nao,,fJae
Early Defeat Seen.
1t is also noteworthy that Andre
Tardieu former premier. and other
strong opposition leaders, except Louis
Marin and Franklin Bouillon, who in
tervened late in the debate, refrained
from attack. The only possible con-
clusion is that the Tardieu group really
prefers M. Steeg to remain in power a
short time pending the cooling of politi-
cal passions now thoroughly aroused.
The fact that Raymond Poincare's
illness eliminates from activity the one
man with SUFFICIENT prestige to bring
about coalition makes a reopening Of
the crisis In January, with probably the
overthrow Of the Steeg government, a
practical certainty.
national issue involved in the situa-
ton. The pretext for the crisis is the
Oustric financial scandal, but the I'M
DERIVING cause is the Deputies growing
preoccupation with the 1882 elections.
The Left wants to split NJ. Tardieu's
majority. The Socialists want to see
The Left in power without themselves
accepting any responsibility, for they
can thus WELD over M. Steeg an tnf1u-
snce similar to that welded over Prime
Minister Ramsay Macdonald by David
Lloyd George.
Dissolution Possible.
The situation is complicated by the
paradox that while the Chamber really
has Right majority, the Senate has a
Left majority, and a government one
;ustains can be overthrown by the
other If in January this play con-
tinues, there will certainly be more talk
Of a dissolution of Parliament and a
I new election Immediately. Neither side
really wants this, but especially not the
Right.
Meanwhile, though governments rise
and fall, high officials of the French
administration continue to run the
country as usual This is the French
system. Politically. there must be a
new deal from time to time, but 1t is
noteworthy that the same face cards
always reappear, though in slightly DIFF
ferent combinations 1t is this relative
lnterchangeability of French statesmen,
as well as the authority of the perma-
nent officials, which insures continuity
Of French policy, both internal and
external.
Copyright. is3O)