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Before touching on the principal events which took place in France in the course of the year 1921, it is necessary to recall one or two of the outstanding facts of 1920 in France. The most important political event was the election on September 23 of Alexandre Millerand as president of the republic. Georges Leygues succeeded him as prime minister, and his appointment somewhat surprised the majority of the nation. Leygues had had a fairly distinguished political career, but in the general opinion he was hardly one of the leading personalities of the moment. But those who were acquainted with the growing attitude of Millerand towards the constitution had a better comprehension of the situation. Millerand desired to see an increase in the power of the president of the republic, and many people agreed with him. France had realized during the ministry of Millerand the benefit of having a capable leader who was free from the anxiety of being turned out of office at any moment. The frequent changes of ministry had shown that even in peace times an unstable government was in a difficult situation. In a time of unrest and insecurity like the present, the situation of the government might be wholly prejudicial to the interests of the country. Millerand's acts during his ministry both in his domestic and his foreign policy had met with the unanimous approval of the nation, and his popularity reached its height in September 1920, when by 695 votes out of 892 he was elected president of the republic. Among the members of Parliament opposed to his appointment there were many keen partisans of the leader whose eminent qualities had been put to the test during a period of over eight months. They did not wish to see Millerand occupying a merely representative position, which is all the French constitution allows to the president. They wanted to see so able a man at the helm of the ship of state, with real and not apparent power. Hopes were therefore raised in some quarters that the constitution would be amended to give more scope to the president. But these hopes were dashed to the ground when, on January 12, Leygues retired from office. The Chamber of Deputies, by dismissing the minister selected by Millerand, expressed its wish to give power to a strong man whose conduct was not to be modified by any influence. Lack of firmness was the principal fault with which Leygues was charged by the majority of the Parliament. As a matter of fact, the dismissal of the premier was expected as an imminent event when Parliament reopened on January 11. On that day Raoul Péret, who was reelected chairman of the Chamber, delivered a most interesting speech dealing with the difficulties of the moment. Leygues' request for the postponement of the intended interpellations of several deputies until after the inter-Allied conference due on the 19th was refused by the House by 447 votes out of 563. The cabinet was therefore compelled to retire. Next day the Senate met and reelected Léon Bourgeois as its chairman.
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