WAR DAMAGE SCANDAL

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 27, 1 February 1924, Page 7

WAR DAMAGE SCANDAL

DEBATE ON BILL REVISING

CLAIMS

STORMY SCENES IN FRENCH ♦ CHAMBER.

(CHIIED Hill ASIOCIATICm. COPTBIOHT.) (AUSTRAUAIMIEW ZIALAN& CABLB ASgOCUTIOK.) ' ... PARIS, 31st January. There was a further stormy debate on the Bill for the revision of all war damage claims, exceeding half a million francs.,,. Most deputies in heated temper determined to deliver speeches which would reach their constituents. Despite cat-calls and interruptions the opponents to the Bill argued that revision of the claims already paid, which meant a revision of judicial decisions, would un dermine the': foundation of French law. Many deputations from the devastated areas declared that the scandals were greatly exaggerated, and that, though some large claimants might have been overpaid, many poor people had been underpaid., The Radicals and Socialists are, ready-with fresh documents to prove that the State has been treated as a milch cow not only by actual losers but by the buyers of their rights. An instance was given of a company which bought a wrecked sugar refinery for 335 francs and claimed ten million damages from the Government, and actually received Beven millions. '..,:' After M. Eoincare hnd intervened in support of revision of the claims, the Bill was passed by a lareg majority.