M. Herriot began by speaking of the new Govern- ment's
decision to withdraw the Embassy at the Vatican. This decision and the complementary decision to apply the law relating to congregations did not mean either persecution or intolerance. The aim was merely to assure the sovereignty of Republican legislation and to discriminate between the spheres of religion and of public affairs. In the view of the Government secularism was the safeguard of fraternity. In the same way the Government wished to give social peace to France. There would be a general amnesty, which would exclude only traitors and those who had evaded military service. The dismissed railwaymen would be reinstated, and the Decree Laws would be immediately suppressed. The Government fully recognized the right of trade unions to exist, but when collective action was taken against the interests of the nation, the Government would make use of all the legal resources at its disposal. The Government would maintain the eight-hours' day and desired the ratification of the conventions adopted by the International Labour Conferences of Washington and Geneva. It also intended to develop social insur- ance. All this composes a liberal policy in domestic affairs which M. Poincare, with his eyes fixed upon Germany, had considerably neglected.- *
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