Paris was excited on Sunday by the news that M.
Berthelot, the chemist recently appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, had resigned, and by a hundred explanations of that event. The official account is that some of M. Berthelot's relations have died ; the Times' correspondent's account is that M. Berthelot gave way before the torrent of criticism which poured on him ; and the true account is, we fancy, that the Russian Government was dissatisfied with his management of recent questions. That Government does not greatly love amateur Foreign Ministers, and was especially provoked to be dragged into the petty quarrel about the demand on the Egyptian Caisse, at a moment when it is inviting the whole world to the gigantic ceremonial of the Czar's coronation. It is, moreover, irritated to perceive that the result of this mismanagement has been that Great Britain has been drawn once more nearer to the Triple Alliance. It felt bound to vote with France against the grant of 2500,000 from the Caisse, but it felt also that M. Berthelot had failed to understand the situation. Representations in this sense were made to Paris, and M. Berthelot was invited to resign. He declined, but on the matter being referred to M. Faure, the President supported the Russian view, and M. Berthelot consequently resigned. M. Bourgeois then appointed himself Minister of Foreign Affairs, and M. Sarrien was with some difficulty persuaded to accept the portfolio of the Interior.
Previous page
