London, Apr. 11.
As far as British opinion con Jcerning the fall of M. Herriot is. expressed, it appears to be generally felt that France's present plight, is the direct outcome of the long-continued failure to facg'the finanfal situation squarely, and to pore the necessary taxation, pointed out that the methods of the Banque de Francy have been exposed as irregular, and unless its factions are swiftly legalized, irretrievable harm will be inflicted on French credit. It is asserted that the disclosure that the Poincaré Government inflated behind the scenes, and the counter-allegation tin. Herriot assented to the same hoodwinking policy, show the folly of France's post-war policy.
The difficulty confronting any. successor of M. Herriot is that he eannov succeed in averting a seri-out position unless he will introduce an unpopular measure. Apparently the idea of a capital levy in a disguised form has been virtually. scrapped by the Finance Committee the Chamber of Deputies, but. taxation in one form or another must be increased, "The Times" says that tax evi sion, the export of capital and hoarding, will have % be regarded a5 unpatriotic acts, and something. of the French war-time spirit of sacrifice is required in order to. Pyoid financial disaster, The "Morning Post" thinks that appearances point to a series of short-lived ministries, but hopes: that there will be no break in foreign policy and in the continuence of Anglo-French relations.
The "Financial Times" says that France will continue in a state of high fever economically until the ancial doctors agree on a remedy, but the time for palliatives long since hae passed—Reute Premiership Refused by M. Painleve Paris, Apr. 12.
President Doumergue summoned M. Painleve to the Elysee at 9.30 thie morning, and offered him the Premiership." M. Painleve refused, saying that he was convinced that a ministry formed by him would speedily encounter the same diffi culties as had caused the fall of herriot. He expressed the opinion. that the new Premier should be a member of the Left, but someone less directly involved in the recent political battles than himself.
The Pres Briand, who answer in the afternoon after consulting with hie friends—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.