M. Tirard has once more escaped by the akin of
his teeth. His enemies, the Right and the Radicals, had agreed to coalesce and to turn him out by refusing the 275,000 demanded on account of Secret-Service money. Most of this money is spent on espionage, principally abroad—though it is admitted that some is used to conciliate journalists—and the Government declare that it is impossible to go on without it. M. Tirard, moreover, says that he will not consent to be the head of a tottering Government, and that the influence of France abroad is destroyed by such manoeuvres. He therefore declared the vote to be one of confidence ; and on Thursday it was found that many Radicals and a few Legitimists shrank from the responsibility. There were a hundred abstentions, and the motion against the vote was rejected by 248 to 220. M. Tirard will therefore, it is hoped, be able to pass his Budget ; but his enemies are untiring, and when united they possess a clear majority in the House. His fate is not in itself of much moment, but the policy of his successor may be of importance to all Europe.
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