PARTY STRIFE IN PARIS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21708, 15 February 1936, Page 15

PARTY STRIFE IN PARIS

ROYALISTS ASSAULT SOCIALIST HEAD

M. BLUM MANHANDLED

SWIFT ACTION BY POLICE

(tnrruso ph«s« issocuTion—copthokt.) (Received February 14, 7;15 p.m.) PARIS, February 13. A. band of Royalists, armed with loaded canes, attacked a car in which the Socialist leader, M. Leon Blum, was riding. , They smashed the windows, and a fragment of glass severed M. Blum’s temporal artery. M. Blum was then manhandled and had to be treated at hospital. He was not seriously injured and returned home later. The attack on M. Blum occurred while he was going home in the car of M. Monnet, a member of the Chamber of Deputies. When the car was opposite the War Ministry, it was caught in a traffic block at the moment when the funeral procession of the Royalist historian, M. Vainville, was passing. A number of those in the procession recognised M. Blum and smashed the windows of the car. Workmen engaged on an adjacent building prevented M. Blum from being beaten to death, M, Monnet and his wife were also cut by glass. The Royalists allege that the occupants of the car claimed parliamentary privilege and attempted to drive through the procession. A delegation of members of the Left party, including M. Harriot and M, Daladier, met the Prime Minister (,M. Sarraut) after the speeches in the Chamber and demanded the arrest of the Royalist leaders, M. Leon Daudet and M. Charles Maurras, and the dissolution of the “Action Francaise” without waiting for a Cabinet meeting. Dramatic events swiftly followed the deputation from the Left party. M. Sarraut hurriedly consulted President (M. Lebrun) and an emergency Cabinet meeting was held, at . which the Government decided on the dissolution of Royalist organisations. Dissolution of Movement In the meantime the police raided the headquarters of the “Action Francaise.” After a skirmish with a party of Royalists who were returning to their headquarters with banners unfurled, 20 arrests were made. The next development will be the issue of a decree signed by M. Lebrun, dissolving the “Action Francaise,” with, it is estimated, 60,000 members whose headquarters are the offices of the Royalist newspaper of the saffie name; also'dissolving the Federation, of Students, which is attached to it, and the National Federation of Camelots du Roi, who are the. young “shock troops” of the movement. The Public Prosecutor has appointed M. Linais to conduct an enquiry to discover who was responsible for the attack on M. Blum. M. Sarraut conferred with the Prefect of Police on precautions against demonstrations and the preservation of order in Paris. M. Maurras, one of the leaders of the “Action Francaise,” said; “We or ganised the funeral with the approval of the police, but M. Blum, who was looking for trouble, broke through the lines.” M. Daudet, who walked into the headquarters of the “Action Francaise” during the raid, was told of the order for its dissolution. He shrugged his shoulders and said: “Don’t care a damn.” M. Blum, though a wealthy man, has been President of the French Socialist party since 1924, He is editor of, the Socialist daily “Le 'Populaire.” His flat has recently been constantly guarded. , In the circumstances the Chamber’s resumed debate on the FrancoSoviet pact fell flat and was adjourned after a few speeches.

TROOPS POSTED IN PARIS

LEGAL ACTION AGAINST ROYALISTS

POLICE SEARCH OFFICES OF MOVEMENT

(Received February 14, 8.20 p.m.) PARIS, February 14, The police searched the headquarters of the “Action Francaise” for, five hours, afterwards sealing the offices of M. Maurras and M. Daudet. The police found M. Blum’s hat and necktie. They also seized an amateur’s film of 'the attack, which is expected to enable them to identify the assailants. The homes of M. Maurras and M. Daudet were also searched. M. Pujo, the chief editor of the newspaper “Action Francaise,” said: “The seized documents are not important. Our confidential documents are in a safe place.” The paper is appearing as usual to-day. The city to-night is an armed camp. Mobile troOps are posted at all strategic points. The authorities have instituted proceedings against M. Maurras and M. Delest, nominal proprietor of the newspaper “Action Francaise,” for incitement to murder in an article published on January 15, reproducing ah earlier article in November, 1935. ,

INDIGNATION IN FRENCH CHAMBER

PROMPT ACTION PROMISED

BY M. SARRAUT

PARIS, February 13

.The news, of the attack on M. Leon Blum caused a sensation in the Chamber. M. Bouisson, the presx-, dent, immediately protested against

the frime and paid a tribute to M. The Prime Minister (M. Sarraut) said that the Government would act with firmness and promptitude against not only the attackers, but the political centres responsible for these organised attacks. He would ask the next Council of Ministers to suppress outlaw-organisations in accordance with the laws voted in. January. The Government considered it intolerable that the safety of citizens should be endangered in a country of liberty. M. Sarraut added: “It was only a miracle that prevented M. Blum from being killed." M. Herriot, M. Arriol, and M. Boullon re-echoed these sentiments on behalf of their respective parties. M. Soulier rose to speak ,on behalf of the Right party, but the Socialists yelled: “No, not you!" Cries of “Assassin!" and the crashing of lids' on desks made speech impossible, and the president clanged his bell and adjourned the sitting. _________________