Solan May Face New Trial

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29851, 18 June 1962, Page 13

Solan May Face New Trial

(N Z -P A -Reuter— Copyright)

PARIS, June 17

The former general, Raoul Salan, the Secret Army leader serving a life sentence, may face the death penalty in a new trial on fresh charges, according to Ministry of Justice sources in Paris.

They said this might follow from an inquiry opened by an examining magistrate on Friday night into actions committed by Salan after those considered by the hich military tribunal. Salan was given a life sentence by a special military court on May 24. in a decision which reportedly enraged President de Gaulle. A death sentence had been expected The Prosecutor’s Office also announced that it would ask for the lifting of Parliamentary immunity from a former Prime Minister, Mr Georges Bidault. who is now believed operating with the Secret Army from outside France The announcement officially linked Mr Bidault’s name with the Secret Army for the first time The new inquiry on Salan came after reports that he had communicated with O A.S. leaders still at large while in prison awaiting trial. Under French law a man can be brought to trial a second time for acts committed after his arrest on the first charge. Letter Found A letter from Salan in Fresnes gaol was found in the possession of Andre Canal, known as “the Black Monocle." when he was arrested in Paris recently, official sources said Canal was described as the Secret Army treasurer for France Police sources said a note from Salan appointing Mr Bidault as his successor at the head of the Secret Army, as well as an order from Salan for the transfer of 1 000.000 new francs (about

£72,000) to Mr Bidault. was found in Canal’s possession. There have been persistent reports since Salan escaped the death sentence—passed earlier on his deputy. Edmond Jouhaud—that President de Gaulle wanted a new trial. After the Salan sentence. the High Military Tribunal which tried him was abolished