A Ministerial Crisis in France, iSjd 767
minister, in which he stated that he was very much fatigued, that he could not come to Paris, and that he was disposed to give up the portfolio of the Minister for Public Worship, while keeping that of the Minister of Justice, and to offer the portfolio of the Minister for the Home Department to M. Jules Simon. After having read this letter, the Marshal asked the ministers present whether they would accept the combination. The Duc Decazes then proposed that there should be a private conference between the ministers before giving a reply to the Marshal, and M. Leon Say asked that the fullest explanations should take place in the presence of the President of the Republic. The Marshal then pointed out the situation in which he was placed. He said: —
"I am placed in a very difficult position. If the country declared itself against me, I would resign. I did not plot in order to get into power, and I make no point of honor in politics. But the majority of one of the Chambers is not the whole country, and I am doing my utmost to govern with the Left Centre. I have called to office the most important man.[1] There is only one of greater importance, namely M. Thiers. I could not nominate M. Thiers as minister. In such a case I could only myself withdraw. I am quite willing, however, to go further. I consent to proposals being made to M. Jules Simon. If anyone had told me, six months ago, that I should accept M. Simon as minister, it would have astonished me very much indeed.
"You may think perhaps that I am vexed with M. Simon on account of what he has said about me. That is a mistake. I should not have spoken of myself otherwise than as M. Jules Simon has spoken of me. He has said that I have not the prestige of the Count of Chambord, who is the representative of the royal line; that is perfectly true. He has said that I have not the prestige of the Count of Paris who, after the Count of Chambord, represents the royal family; also that I have not the prestige that Napoleon possessed by virtue of his genius. All this is perfectly true — I should have said exactly the same of myself. I have no spite against M. Jules Simon. But if you do not wish me to make proposals to him, what can I do? I shall be compelled to issue a manifesto, announce to the country that the Left Centre is unwilling to remain in office, and that it is not pleased because I accept M. Simon. Then it will be quite natural to hold elections, when it will not be as it was with M. Buffet, who said very much, but who, in fact, did nothing to influence the elections. I think it will be necessary to act, and to act vigorously.
"I will not go further to the Left than M. Jules Simon. M. Gambetta has caused a ministerial list to be laid before me, with M. Duclerc as President of the Council, and M. Lepere, M. Leroyer, and M. de Freycinet as Ministers. There was also the name of M. Waddington. They would very much have liked to get rid of M. Leon Say, but they felt bound to retain him.
- ↑ M. Dufaure.
