Tiens!

"Papa" Poincare's majority was defeated in the general elections for the Chamber of Deputies.

For weeks the paid press of France has issued stories proving that the Premier was certain of a majority in the Thirteenth Legislature (the new Chamber). The press of the whole world followed suit. Yet, the Premier's parties lost 'heavily. Final results by leaders:

Poincare (six parties) 282

Herriot 130

Briand 104

Painleve 39

Communists .. 29

Total 584

This means that the present Opposition has a majority of 20 over the parties faithful to Poincare. Premier Poincare is to remain in power until June 2, when the new Chamber of Deputies meets. The choice of a Premier to succeed "Papa" Poincare lay between MM. Herriot and Briand. Briand is the more popular, but Herriot heads the largest party, the Radical-Socialist group (Bloc de Gauche). Many people thought that Poincare would attempt to get together a small majority, French parliamentary practices permitting such odd procedure, but this is most unlikely.

Not long ago President Millerand threatened to resign if the Bloc National were defeated. The transfer of some 100 votes to the Radicals and Socialists leaves the Bloc in a minority and critics were wondering if the President would carry out his threat. A Socialist regime would in no way suit M. Millerand's policy of active participation in governing France.

The Socialists under Herriot are not Communists and are of much the same tenor as are the British Laborites. Whatever reshuffling of power takes place, Poincare's foreign policy with regard to Germany and the Dawes report is not likely to suffer appreciably. Poincare's intransigeance will in all probability be dropped, but the essential points in his policy such as payment of reparations, guarantees, etc., are certain to be retained. The real divergence of policy is in religious matters. The new Chamber is anti-clericalist in complexion and opposed to Bloc National's policy of happiness with the Vatican.

Among the most noteworthy people who lost their seats: Deputy Andre Tardieu, ex-Minister of Finance de Lasteyrie, ex-Minister of the Interior Manoury, Leon Daudet (Royalist leader), General de Castelnau, "Saviour of Nancy," Prince Murat, Sadi Lecointe (aeronaut).

Notables elected: MM. Poincare, Herriot, Briand, Painleve; Communists Marty and Cachin, the former of whom was convicted of treason and later pardoned; ex-Minister of the Interior Malvy, once accused by ex-Premier Clemenceau of treason.