The fortnight's debate in the French Chamber provoked by M.
Briand's Ministerial declaration was closed by him in another remarkable speech on Monday. Replying to his Radical critics, M. Briand declared that there was no question of repudiating the work accomplished by the Rapublicans, but " after the long and violent battle waged by the Republi- cans—a battle not only for reform, but of instinctive self- defenee—there had arisen that difficult moment which inevitably comes after a great victory. The duty of the victor as he surveyed the battlefield was to arrest the movement of his troops, and to see to it that his victory should not be sullied by lamentable excesses." Turning to the legislative programme, he said that the Bill on the status of Civil servants would grant them all the liberties- they could desire if they had no arriare-penstfes against the rights of the nation. The Government were
determined to defend the work of the preceding Legislature on Income-tax, and would find the necessary resources for giving effect to the old-age pension scheme. The Government programme for the increase of the Navy was needed in the interests of the peace of the world, and M. Briand effectively exposed the inconsistency of those who were ready to cry " No more ships !" and then complained that thousands of workmen had been thrown ouii of employment. M. Briand's speech carried the House with him.
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