e invitation of both France and Spain. In March, 1912,
a French protectorate was established by treaty. Hardly had this
been accomplished when the natives revolted, and it was not until
the fall of 1912 that French troops succeeded in reestablishing
order. In August 1912, M. Poincare visited Russia, and in September
Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia attended the French maneuvers, both
signs that the French-Russian friendship was losing nothing in
strength.

January, 1913, brought once more the presidential election, from
which, after two or three ballots, M. Poincare emerged as M.
Fallieres's successor. He asked M. Briand to form the cabinet and
appointed M. Delcasse Ambassador at Petrograd. The Briand Ministry
resigned as the result of difficulties over a matter of internal
policy in March, 1913, and was succeeded by one headed by M.
Barthou. The new president paid an official visit to the English
court in June, 1913, and to the Spanish court in October, 1913. In
August, 1913, a three years' service bill was passed to counteract
recent legislative measures in Germany, increasing the army's peace
strength. This bill at first encountered considerable opposition,
especially on the part of the Socialists.

Like all the other great European powers, France maintained a strict
neutrality during the two Balkan wars of 1912 and 1913, and, of
course, played an important part in the various unsuccessful
attempts of the powers to prevent their outbreak, as well as in the
conferences leading up to the final adjustment. In the latter the
French representatives worked in conjunction with those of the
republic's allies, England and Russia.

The year 1914 brought more than the usual number of ministerial
changes. First the Barthou Cabinet fell as a result of financial
legislation and of an attack on the part of M. Caillaux. M.
Doumerge, a political associate of the latter, formed a new one with
M. Caillaux in charge of the Finance Ministry. On March 16, 1914,
his wife killed M. Calmette, the editor of the Paris "Figaro," in
which he had attacked M. Caillaux most violently and consistently.
The Minister of Finance resigned on the evening of the murder, and
the rest of the cabinet followed on June 1, 1914. The new cabinet,
under M. Ribot, a moderate Republican, lasted one day and was
succeeded by another, headed by M. Viviani. In July, 1914, the
president paid a visit to Russia, from where he returned barely in
time to be greeted by Ger