Cabinet turnover made it difficult for French naval aviation to hold a stable direction. Britain had five prime ministers between 1918 and 1939, while France had 19 across 34 ministries. Preparations for the 1930 London Naval Treaty crossed several governments, and Bearn's path from launch to commissioning crossed repeated changes of minister of marine. Rapid turnover might make bribery impractical because a purchased decision-maker could leave office immediately, yet it also made reversal by each successor easier. Budgets, foreign policy, organization, and technical decisions could all change before a minister had mastered the department. Carrier development required long-term political ownership and ministers who remained long enough to test the advice they received.
Notable Point · 22:05-30:05
Ministerial churn and carrier decisions
A rapid turnover of French governments and naval ministers made sustained carrier policy difficult during the same years Bearn and treaty decisions needed continuity.