A new French political crisis arose at the end of
last week. H. Painleve on Friday week defended his Ministry against the charge of being weak in its foreign policy sand timid in its domestic administration, and the Chamber supported him on a division by 346 votes to 74. Nevertheless he felt obliged, in view of the persistent criticism, to offer his resignation. M. Polecat* the President, refused to accept it, holding that M. Painleve enjoyed public confidence. Thereupon the other Ministers resigned in ■ body, leaving M. Painleve free to reconstruct his Cabinet. He solved the problem by asking AL Barthon to replace M. Ribot at the Foreign Office, and by recalling all Iris other colleagues. M. Ribot has offended the Socialists so deeply by his plain dealing with the mischievous project of a Stockholm Conference that they will not eo-operate heartily with a Ministry of which he is a member. His retirement may restore the " sacred union " of parties which began at the outbreak of war and was not serionedy threatened until last summer.
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