31 DECEMBER 1921, Page 2

M. Philippe Berthelot, the permanent chief of the French Foreign

Office, resigned his post on Monday in consequence of the attacks made on him in the Chamber. He had, it was said, used undue influence in favour of the Banque Industrielle do Chine, of which his brother was chairman, in the hope of avert- ing the collapse which occurred some months ago. M. Briand, who had defended M. Berthelot more than once, assured the Chamber on Tuesday that M. Berthelot had done nothing wrong, although he should have submitted for Ministerial approval a telegram asking American bankers to assist the Franco-Chinese bank. The prestige of France in the Far East was bound up with the fortunes of the bank which M. Berthelot had rightly endeavoured to save. M. Briand refused to agree to a Parlia- mentary inquiry and obtained a vote of confidence by 361 to 238. It is thought, however, that the Ministry's tenure of office it becoming very insecure: