13 FEBRUARY 1926, Page 2

* * * * .

-

On Tuesday the French Prime Minister, M. Briand-, took the step which had been expected for weeks. He informed the Chamber -that if the Finance Bill were not sent up to the Senate in a few days the Government would ask for powers to. provide the money necessary for the Budget and- that if those powers were refused he would resign.' He bitterly reproached the Nationalists with encouraging their constituents not to pay their taxes. In spite of this grave warning the deputies carried on as before, chopping logic over unimportant clauses. They heard the legions thunder past, as it were, and plunged in frivolity again. . .* * *