31 JANUARY 1920, Page 2

Thenew French Premier, M. Millerand, was not received with much

favour when he presented himself to the Chamber last week. His Minister of the Interior, M. Steeg, was made the object of a bitter personal attack on the ground that he had been associated with M. Calllaux. The Premier secured a formal motion of confidence, but half the Chamber declined to vote. He warned the country that its duty was to "produce more and consume less," and declared that "to pay taxes was to serve France." His main task, he said, was to restore the finances and improve the rate of exchange. War profits must be specially taxed. The Government would do their beat to support the League of Nations, but they could not trust to the League so far as to neglect the French Army and Navy.