Cabinet Crisis

On Apr. 5, Premier Theunis resigned (TIME, Apr. 27). Since that date, M. Eimile Van der Velde, Count Charles de Broqueville, M. Aloys Van de Vyvere, Burgomaster Adolphe Max have ineffectually tried to form or maintain Cabinets (TIME, May 25 et seq.).

Last week, Viscount Poullet, after ten days of negotiation, did what all Belgians declared impossible: he formed a Catholic-Socialist Government, dared to make the Socialist leader, Eimile Van der Velde his Foreign Minister.

Surprise in Belgium was quickly clouded by well-founded pessimism. Such a Cabinet would never command support from Parliament. Premier Poullet was wary. He did not lead his Cabinet into the Chamber of Deputies, as did his predecessors, and bluntly demand a vote of confidence. Instead, he put the onus of responsibility on the Catholic Party by asking its representatives in the Senate and Chamber if they were prepared to support his Government.* The Catholic Senators voted no confidence, 36 to 22. The Catholic Deputies voted no confidence, 41 to 24.

Premier Poullet handed his resignation to King Albert.

Once against the wisemen of Brussels said there was nothing for it but dissolution of Parliament and a new general election.

* No party has an absolute majority in either the Senate or Chamber and a coalition of two or all three (Socialist, Catholic, Liberal) of the groups is necessary.