It grants an annulment of marriage for certain causes, which must have existed at the time of the union, such as too close relationship, previous marriage, insanity, fraud, and so on.

A good many Frenchmen of the aristocratic and conservative classes refuse personally to recognize any dissolution of marriage not sanctioned by the church. The meaning of M. Caillaux's proceedings at Home would therefore appear to be that he was endeavoring to acquire standing among the aristocratic, conservative, and religious elements of France. It is barely conceivable that he might ask an annulment from the Vatican on the ground that both he and his present wife were divorced when they married one another and therefore not free to marry again from the church's standpoint. But M. Caillaux was a Radical Socialist and his associates were men conspicuously opposed to the church.

It is certain, however, that the ambitious M. Caillaux is working very industriously at some big political plans. He was forced to resign his position as Minister of Justice after his wife killed Galmette. During the war, he has made himself conspicuous in many ways. He has attended secret conferences in Rome, which have been described by his enemies as efforts to conclude a separate peace with Germany. He has been sent to South America on a public mission by the French Government for the purpose of getting him out of the way, but he has come back. Now he is evidently preparing a political coup.

Caillaux's friends say that his return to office has been barred by his union with a wife who was tried for murder. 