In the Public Eye

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 27, 1 February 1936, Page 21

In the Public Eye

All France's domestic political crockery, was rattled perilously at Limoges, world-famous centre of the porcelain industry, about 250 miles south-west of Paris, when there was a clash between Croix de Feu members ot the Fascist organisation led by Colonel Francois de la Rocque, and Leftist Republicans, who made a counter-demonstration against the demonstrators.

.Twenty-one Left demonstrators and gendarmes were wounded by shots fired admittedly by the adherents of Colonel de la Rocque on that tumultuous Saturday night of November 16. Colonel de- la Rocque protested, in an open letter to Premier Laval, and demanded police protection for Croix de Feu meetings.

The letter declared that unless the Government was able to protect meetings such as that held at Limoges from "attacks by revolutionaries," Colonel de la Rocque and his friends would have to "organise a legitimate defence."

The one organisation considered most dangerous to the Third Republic is the Croix de Feu founded by Colonel de la Rocque in 1927. Originally it was an exclusive war veteran organisation, but it has evolved into a mass movement. numbering a membership estimated at from 60,000 to 250,000 members.

■ Colonel de la Rocque' has been described as "the nearest thing extant to- a French Hitler."

He has 24 years of military service to his credit. He is a Commander of the Legion of Honour, has eleven military citations from the war and colonial engagements in Africa, where he acted as-soldier and administrator. He is a .graduate of Saint Cyr, France's "West Point."

Earnest, eloquent, and convincing, he is^an impressive figure on the platform with-his high forehead, small, penetrating, deep-set eyes, thinning hair, Roman nose, and thin, tight lips. He is ■•conservative in dress, and lives simply at Versailles with his wife and five: children.

His determination in organising the Croix de Feu, eight years ago, was that France has been laid low by politicians, and that it was the duty of ex-soldiers to- save '-the country.

.In.the event of trouble, wrote a contributor -to the . "Evening Standard," London, he would undoubtedly be "the master of the Paris 'street.'" Although he^ist'now forty-eight years of age, "he looks ,rather like the well-known picture of Ndpoleon on the Bridge of Arcola." .

Referring; to the political likeness of Colonel de la 'Rocque to Heichsleader Hitler, John Elliott wrote in the "New Yqrk Herald-Tribune":

• "French Republicans do 1 ot intend to be caught napping as the German Liberals were, who let slip a great opportunity when they failed to deport Adolf Hitler as an undesirable alien in the days when the Nazi leader was merely the head of a contemptible body of extremists."

Among comment to the "Literary Digest" from Eurdpe came the remark of "The Times," London, that Premier Laval is in "a serious predicamen " because:

"If he takes strong action' against the Croix de Feu, he will alien-Ue his friends on the Right; if he refuses, he will offend his Radical Socialist' supporters, without whom the Government cannot survive."

In the view of the "Morning Post," London, Premier Laval is "forced to hunt with the hounds and run with the hare," for the reason that:

"Without the Radical Socialists he cannot get his decrees passed, but as aiprice for votes the Radical Socialists demand' stern measures against the League of Fascists. He has one trump card in'that no one wants to take his place."

Meanwhile, Premier Laval took the mind of the French people off the situation at home by having France's Ambassador to Germany, Andre FrancoisPoncet, call upon Chancellor Hitler, with whom the Ambassador had a two-hour conference.

As viewed by the Berliner "Tageblatt,". the French Ambassador's visit with Chancellor Hitler was "merely a link/in the chain of efforts towards a . peaceful understanding, as no territorial question exists between Germany and :France. Since the reattachment of the Saar by ( Germany, one of the greatest obstacles to understanding has been removed. Sir G. H. Munro. A.retired accountant's clerk of 72, ■who.lives in a small flat atXJuildford, Surrey, has succeeded to one of the oldest ■ titles in Scotland, though neither lands nor money go .with it. He is .Mr. George Hamilton Munro, a. cousin ■of Sir Hector Munro, whose death at'Foulis Cattle, Ross-shire, at the age of eighty-six,, was announced recently. The baronetcy dates from 1634. "I have succeeded to the title as twelfth baronet and thirtieth Baron of Foulis. and thirty-seventh chief of the-Clan Munro," Mr. Munro said. "But I 'have succeeded to the title and the chieftainship only, and to no territorial 'or monetary appendages •whatever. "From"the; first Baron Munro the barony with the estates have formed the title and chief residence of the head.of the house which for nearly 800 years'has existed in uninterrupted descent in the male line, a fact said to be unexampled in the annals of Scotland or England.

"But in consequence of the estates being disentailed under the Rutherford Act of 1848 I inherit the titles without any pecuniary advantage, the estates going to Sir Hector's grandson on. the maternal side.

"I retired a few years ago after a long life as an accountant's clerk.

"My grandfather, the ninth baronet, succeeded the eighth baronet as a kinsman only. He was then living at Peckham, and left for Scotland, taking his eldest son with him and leaving my father,' His "second son, to seek his own fortune.

"My father, who was a surveyor ot taxes at Tunbridge Wells, and other ylaces,: died when I was eleven."

The Hubbard Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society was presented by General Pershing to Captain Albert W. Stevens and Captain Orvil A. Anderson of the Army Air Corps, in recognition of their ascent into the stratosphere on November 11, when they reached an official altitude of 72,395 ft. The flight was sponsored by the Army Air Corps and the National Geographic Society. Diplomatic representatives, army and navy officers, scientists, and Government officials filled Constitution Hall Washington, to witness the presentation and to view the pictures which the Air Corps officers made thirteen miles above the earth. "The richest cargo of scientific data yet captured in the stratosphere," was the description General Pershing gave to the descent of the balloon, "brought to earth as safely and as gently as if they had descended in an elevator." The two flyers were lauded by General Pershing, Captain Stevens as "the daring master photographer," and Captain Anderson as "the skilful aeroplane, airship, and free balloon pilot." He is one of the few officers holding all flying ratings bestowed by the Air Corps. Dr. Gilbert Grosvenor, president of the National Geographic Society, said: "The longer we have worked with the gallant, resourceful, and brainy men that constitute the Army Air Corps, the deeper has grown our admiration for the intelligence, efficiency, and spirit that animates every member of that remarkable corps." Unique photographs were displayed at tho end of the ceremony. One, with the horizon 300 miles distant, showed more plainly than in any previous picture the lateral curvature of the earth. The curve extended over a sweep of 220 miles. " M. F. Chaliapin. Chaliapin, the famous Russian singer, left Copenhagen by air for Paris recently, in a condition of high excitement. The much-heralded presentation of Gounod's "Faust," which was to have taken place at the Opera House in aid of charity, was cancelled, and the money paid for tickets returned. Chaliapin declared that he had had one of the most dreadful experiences of his life. He was to have played Mephistopheles, arrived at Copenhagen a few days previously to rehearse, and trouble appears to have begun at once. Chaliapin made many criticisms of the production, the singers, and the orchestra. He was particularly dissatisfied with the Danish modern presentation of the opera, which he declared to be quite unsuited to Gounod's "Faust." He left the rehearsal three times in protest. After the third time the management decided to dispense with his services and abandon the production. To one of the leading artists Chaliapin, complaining that he was singing too loudly, declared, "Save your voice for Sunday" (the day of the performance). Of two others he said one was too fat for the part wfdle the other was too small. Picking up the smaller one and; placing him on a chair Chaliapin shouted, "So big he ought to be." He eventually walked out of the theatre in disgust, but returned for another rehearsal. Similar trouble seems to have occurred, and eventually the local singers angrily declared that they would not appear with him. Chaliapin later gave -the reasons for his action. "The. performance which is to be given," he said, "is not Gounod's 'Faust.' It is certainly a highly interesting performance, but, unfortunately, I do not know it." He then described how in the first scene Margaret descended from the heavens as a sort of acrobatic turn. He also said: "In the scene where I sink before the Cross the chorus laughed." y ■Chaliapin's further complaints were that the theatre chief was not present at the rehearsals, no one had met him at the station, and no arrangements had been made to convey him to the theatre. He was to have given another performance in aid of the Theatre Royal Artists' Pension Fund. Mr. F. O. Salisbury. Mr. Frank O. Salisbury, the portrait painter, has received a commission which will take him halfway round the world to paint a sitter whose robes and insignia are too costly to be movea. The Maharajah of Patiala when in London last year recognised and admired Mr. Salisbury's "The Sen Sisters," a picture of four sari-clad Hindu girls' whom he had known as children. "When he suggested that I should paint his portrait," Mr. Salisbury told a representative of the "Daily Telegraph," "he explained that the State robes, in which he wished to be painted, included jewels valued at £6,ooo,ooo—many of them family heirlooms. The cost of bringing them to London would be enormous, so he has invited me to go to Patiala for February and March. I was unable to promise definitely, as I am not sure whether I can finish my Jubilee picture of the Thanksgiving Service for Buckingham Palace in time. Apparently February and March are the only suitable months for painting in India, but the Maharajah has agreed to let me postpone my visit for a year if I am unable to finish the King's picture in time. In addition to the portrait of the Maharajah himself, I am to paint nine other portraits, chiefly of members of his family."