CABLE NEW 8. [BI EIiKOTIIIO TBIEOUArH.—COrX'UIQUT.]

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 148, 23 June 1904, Page 5

CABLE NEW 8. [BI EIiKOTIIIO TBIEOUArH. — COrX'UIQUT.]

FRENCH POLITICS. THE ALLEGED ATTEMPTED UlUßlvKi'. A LIVELY MEETING. INKPOTS AKI) EPITHETS FREELY DISTRIBUTED. fl'ilKSS ASSOCIATION.] (Received Juno 23, H.I a.m.) PARIS, 22nd Jtmo. In connection with tuo alleged attempt of tho Grande Chart reiibe mnukj lo bribe the Froncli Premier, owing to d>&CK > [>um.'ic.s in the evidence tendered by Si. iUichcl hi Grave, nu uiliuiul in tho Ministry of Commerce, and M. Edg«r Combes, the Premier's son, a great uproar at tin; meeting of the Commiiteo appointed to investigate, the ail'uir took place. Epithets wero bandird about, inkpots wero thrown, and blows exchanged between (several members of the m.ijonty and minority, tho latter eventually withdrawing. In a cable message icceived ln.il week it was stated by AL Edgar Combes that M. la Grave had told him that tho monks were disposed to place £80,000 m tho hands of the- Government it their Order ■»ay ;iut housed. 'I he whole trouble extends over mmiic lime. The monks of iho Ciilhiibian Older did not, as an Ordsr, apply lor authoiisaHon when the French Kehgious A.»-sociation» law e.unu into opemtion. The mouastoy of tlie Grande Cliarticuso, world-fumed fur Iho liqueur which is made by Ihe monks, provided the exception. They applied, basing their application on Iho ground that tho monastery was a cnnnncicml infcUlution. Then, toivaids tho beginning of 1903, the newspaper Petit Danphiuois alleged that, M. Edgar Combes, I he, Premin's fcon, had offered to obtain authorisation for the Oaithuiriaub for £40,000. The ul legation whs stoutly denied by Al. Edgar Combes. Later, in April, a monk ot the institution informed a representative of the P.uis journal "Lo Uaulois " that «, person prole.-ning to represent a l>ol)ticnl group in the Chamber of .Deputies had oftered lo secure Ouvernment authorisation under tho Association Law for the monastery if it 'would pay £12,000 down, and contribute £80,000 to the electoral fund. The offer, the monk said, wi\s refused. Tin- matter was frequently referred lo in tho French press, but nothing appears to have b«en done uptil several weeks ngo, when an angry Kceno occurred in the Chamber of Deputies between M. Combet, the Premier, «hd M. Millerand, a Socialist member, who wns recently expelled from tho Socialist party. M. Millernnd had made a , number of bitter personal attacks on the Premier, and at length M. Combos, goaded beyond cuduranco, doclnred that when the Associations Law was being enforced against tho Ordeis lost yoaA 2,000,000 francs (£80,000) had been indirectly of- ; fered to him (M. Combes) on behalf of the monks of the Grande Cfiartretuse if ho would introduce a Bill exempting them from the operation of the law. M. Miilerand knew of that olTer, but ho hud urged him (the Premier) "in the higher interests of tho country," not to divulge tho name- of tho person who had offered tho bribe. A ComVittoo was thereupon appointed to enquire into tho allegation of the Premier, and ii good deal of feeling hus, judging from to-day's cablegram, been introduced into the proceedings.