Going?

One fine Paris morning at 10:30 o'clock Premier Poincare led his Cabinet to The Elysee, handed President Millerand the following letter:

Mr. President:

Conforming to a decision taken by the Government on the morrow of the general elections [TIME, May 19] we have the honor to submit to you the collective resignation of the Cabinet.

The President accepted the resignation, made the usual request that the Government carry on current business until the formation of a new Cabinet.

In the afternoon, at one o'clock, the Parties of the Left Bloc (Radical, Unified and Republican Socialists) met in the Hotel du Palais d'Orsay, passed rowdily a unanimous motion calling upon President Millerand to resign, despite the remonstrances of prospective Premier Herriot, elected ex-Premier Painleve Left Bloc candidate for the Presidency of the Chamber.

The same afternoon, at three o'clock, the new Chamber met for the first time under the temporary presidency of Professor Pinard, the oldest Deputy, who made a speech attacking the Poincare Government and advocating "a heavy tax on bachelors, and votes for women." The session was purely formal.

The political situation remained obscure throughout interminable party controversy." But there was no doubt at all that the Socialists were out for President Millerand's scalp. He, however, is not responsible to Parliament but to the people. At the same time he cannot make law any act which has been passed by Parliament, unless it has been signed by a Minister of the Government. Thus, it is apparent that the Ministers control the President as much as the President controls the Ministers.

The Chamber cannot legally force the President to resign. The Senate is likewise powerless, but, if it should have a two-thirds majority in favor of the President, it can dissolve the Chamber and call for new elections. Even the Senate and the Chamber combined cannot oust Millerand, for he can only be legally turned out of office for high treason. A hostile Parliament would, however, rapidly drive the President to resign voluntarily, for his position would be morally untenable.

It was considered likely therefore, that President Millerand would resign if the Senate and Chamber joined forces against him.