OUT OF HAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 32, 7 February 1934, Page 7

OUT OF HAND.

DEPUTIES IN UPROAR. Chamber Reaches a State of Siege. VOLLEYS FIRED BY POLICE. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 1.30 p.m.) PARIS, February 8. With the Chamber surrounded by police, mounted guards and thousands of troops hidden at strategic points and in the courtyards of neighbouring public buildings, the Chamber began a sitting which was to end with Parliament Buildings being in a state of siege and sounds of police volleys penetrating the walls.

M. Daladier, Prime Minister, faced one of the stormiest sessions in the history of the Chamber. The sitting was marked by a continual series of boos and catcalls. Free fights and disorders were so great that the sitting was twice suspended. The Prime Minisv.r began by reading a Ministerial declaration, but within 10 minutes pandemonium arose, necessitating a suspension. When the sitting was resumed, M. Daladier proposed that the vote should be shortened by limiting the opposition interpellations to four, which was made a question of confidence, on which the Government was successful by 300 votes to 217. M. Daladier, amid the booing of the Right, recommenced his Ministerial declaration, which he continued amid jeers and guffaws. When he declared that a full light would be thrown on the Stavisky case the Deputies of the Right and Left stood up, shouting at each other. His reference to the reform of personnel was greeted with shouts of "Comedie Francaise," while Communists banged the desks and shouted "Soviet." Commission of Inquiry. The Prime Minister awaited silence and was eventually able to deliver his declaration proposing a Parliamentary commission of inquiry into the Stavisky affair and merciless punishment for all whom the commission denounced. He affirmed the retention of the gold standard, and declared that the Budget must be passed. He promised to deal with unemployment and renovate the antiquated fiscal system.

Further, he reaffirmed France's desire for peace and security, adherence to the League friendships, and finally denounced the Deputies for wasting time. He announced be would accept no interpellations to-day, and made a motion for a vote of confidence. M. Tardieu protested that the Government had introduced the menace of Fascism. The Communists shouted "Gorgouloff," recalling that M. Tardieu was Prime Minister when Gorgouloff assassinated M. Doumer, President. • Finally, M. Daladier moved the closure on which the vote of confidence was carried by 302 to 204 votes. Violent rioting broke out in the evening in the Place de la Concorde, the Rue do Eivoli and other important streets. The crowd set fire to the Ministry of Marine, but firemen extinguished the flames within half an hour. Meanwhile, thousands had gathered in Camelots du Roi. Syndicalists, Communists, Socialists, members of the Fiery Cross, extremists and ex-service-men's organisations had gathered In the neighbourhood of the Hotel de Ville, shouting: "Down with the Government," and "Imprison Chiappe." Excitement increased as darkness fell and hooliganism broke out in the Kue de Rivoli. Tobacconists' kiosks were overturned and set on lire. A mob in the Place de la Concorde set fire to a motor bus, private cars and newspaper vans. Mounted police charged repeatedly, using the sabre on their assailants. The mob was prevented reaching the Chamber of Deputies by mobile police firing.