QUIET FUNERAL OF CLEMENCEAU

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 54, 27 November 1929, Page 11

QUIET FUNERAL OF CLEMENCEAU

- BURIED IN LONELY SPOT BEFORE DAWN FIRING OF SALUTES ONLY PUBLIC TRIBUTE Paris, November 24. In pouring rain, at 2 o’clock in the morning, Clemenceau’s cofiin was taken to a lonely briar clump In the La Vendee for interment. Only four cars followed the hearse. Furthermore, in keeping with “The Tiger’s” wish, there was no pomp. The only public tribute was the firing of salutes throughout France at the moment. The coffin was placed upright in the grave without any form of religious service. It is now revealed that during Clemenceau’s last hours, despite the fact that he was a declared agnostic, his sister, Theonestes, prayed at the bedside till death, which, according to her, was minus the Church’s blessing and Sacraments, but, she said, "God is good and He surely will receive him.”

TRIBUTES OF BRITISH STATESMEN OUTSTANDING FIGURE IN HISTORY WORK FOR VICTORY AND PEACE (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, November 25. The British Government, in the course of a telegram to the French Government, expresses profound sorrow for the death of M. Clemenceau. The message says: "His proved friendship and long loyalty in trying days entitle him to the lasting gratitude of this country, where his death will be universally mourned and his memory honoured.” The Prime Minister, Mr. MacDonald, in a message to the President of the Council, says of the dead statesman, “His long and distinguished career, his indomitable courage and his energy, which advancing years did not diminish, have roused the warm admiration of my countrymen, and the whole British nation grieves with France at his passing.” In a further tribute, Mr. MacDonald says: “The Clemenceau of history will not only be the outstanding representative of his people as a nation, but a man whose varied human qualities will always endear him to those Interested in the elements of human greatness.” Many other Ministers and former Ministers have paid similar tributes, including Mr. Lloyd George, Lord Grey, and Lord Derby, who were closely associated with M. Clemenceau at different times during the war years and after. Mr. Lloyd George said: “We worked together during two of the most eventful years in history in the closest cooperation for the direction of the World War and of the world peace. Of the four men who were primarily responsible for framing the Peace Treaty, Signor Orlando and I alone remain of the Council of Four. With the death of M. Clemenceau there passes away the last of the great statesmen of the nineteenth century. He will rank in history amongst the greatest of them all.”

Lord Grey described M. Clemenceau as a brave statesman, a great patriot, and a staunch friend of Britain. Lord Derby said: “The Allies owed him much, for his courage and determination to win were of inestimable value to our cause.”