Politicians in Paris, being like politicians in London, very dull,
are amusing themselves with speculations on possible changes of Ministry. This week they have expected the resigna- tion of M. Lepere, Minister of the Interior. He had recom- mended M. Gent for the Governorship of Martinique, and he had been appointed. There was, however, it appears, some past incident in M. Gent's career which made him, if the charge were true, unfit for that appointment, and Admiral Jaureguiberry, Minister of Colonies and Marine, cancelled it, after it had been signed. Thereupon, it is stated, M. Lepers threatened to resign, and as he represents the Left, a Minis- terial crisis, or even a defeat in the Chamber, was expected. The difficulty was only soothed away by the intervention of M. Gambetta himself, who did not desire another change of Minis- try till after Christmas. That some dispute occurred in the Cabinet seems clear, as M. Lepere's withdrawal of his re- signation was officially announced ; but stories of that kind are exaggerated in Paris as much as in London,. and Ministers do not break up Cabinets on questions of patron- age there, any more than here. The truth seems to be that the Waddington Cabinet, being a compromise, hangs rather loosely together ; audthat the public, aware of this, expects every diffi- culty to result in its dissolution. Real power, however, in France does not rest with the Ministry but with the three Pre- sidents, M. Gr4vy, M. Ga,mbetta, and M. d'Audiffret Pasquier.
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