FRANCE: Unknown Government

Swift and masterful was the style in which veteran Prime Minister Raymond Poincaré consolidated the position of his new Cabinet, last week, smacked down his program of action before Parliament, and swept an enemy or two from the political chess board.

Enemy Number One was M. le Senateur Joseph Caillaux. He, by wily intrigue, upset the next-to-last Poincare Cabinet (TIME, Nov. 12). Last week the Prime Minister took revenge. At his nod the Senate ousted rich, financier Joseph Caillaux from the seat on the Senate Finance Committee which he has held almost ever since he entered public life.

When M. Poincaré strode into Parliament to announce the program of his Cabinet, tremendous cheers rose from the Right and Centre, but Socialists of the Left sought to embarrass the Prime Minister by demanding a vote on a point of order before he had time to open his lips. Scowling, the “Lion of Lorraine” consented to the vote, won by 335 to 147, and then launched into a great and moving political declaration. His two paramount objects would be, he said, first to put through revision of the Dawes Plan, and thereafter to secure final ratification by Parliament of the Mellon-Berenger debt funding agreement, between France and the U. S. When M. Poincaré had spoken, a cheering Chamber gave his Cabinet a formal vote of confidence, 330 to 129.

Since the new Cabinet contains no Socialist minister it became necessary, last week, for the great Socialist Joseph Paul Boncour, who has been for the past four years Second (Acting) French Delegate to the League of Nations, to resign that post. Thus party loyalty and precedent deprived France and the League of their ablest liaison statesman.

Told discreetly at the Foreign Office, last week, was the tale of a jest cracked by Foreign Minister Aristide Briand, last fortnight, when he and Prime Minister Poincare were earnestly consulting how to reconstruct the fallen Government (i.e., Cabinet).

“There must be a Government by tomorrow!” cried M. Poincaré. “It is Armistice Day and a Government must honor the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe.”

Dryly, M. Briand replied, “Why not, mon vienx, an Unknown Government to honor the Unknown Soldier?”