TENSION IN PARIS

Evening Star, Issue 21638, 6 February 1934, Page 9

TENSION IN PARIS

GUY VIRTUALLY UNDER MARTIAL LAW SEVENTY-FIVE ARRESTS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. PARIS, February 5. The city is virtually under martial law. It is not the police, but the military who command the position. Troops of the garrison were called out and distributed to various points, protecting buildings which are usually guarded by the police. Seventy-five arrests were made at tho Place de L’Opera, where a riot began, one section cheering M. Chiappe, while another rival demonstration acclaimed M. Daladier and M. Frot, the latter being Minister for the Interior. M. Sibour, who has succeeded M. Chiappe as Prefect of Police, camped throughout the night at the Prefecture, PUNGENT PRESS CRITICISM M. DALADIER REFUSES TO REPLY. PARIS, February 5. M. Daladier bluntly refused to answer Press criticism, some of which is pungent, regarding M. Chiappe and declared that his sole duty was to France, and he would allow nothing to stop him from throwing complete light on the Stavisky affair, precluding a repetition of past weaknesses. The Government has replaced M. Reuard, Civil Governor of Paris and M. Chiappe’s close associate, by M. Villety, prefect in Rhone. Many believe that tho brusqueness of M. Chiappe’s dismissal was due to the Government’s fear of a police demonstration. I —— EXCITEMENT AT HIGH PITCH RUMOURS OF ROYALIST COUP D’ FT AT. PARIS, February 5. (Received February 6, at 10 a.m.) The National Union of Ex-Soldiers claims that it will put 30,000 demonstrators in the streets to-morrow. “ The effervescence to-day is not less than just prior to the fall of the Bastille,” says the ‘Echo de Paris.’ Conservative newspapers feature every disturbance, and print stories of machine guns secreted in Parliament buildings and suggest that bloodshed is inevitable. The air is full of rumours of a coming Royalist coup d’etat. Tanks are housed on the left bank of the Seine. PREPARING FOR EVENTUALITIES PARIS, February 5. (Received B’ebruary 6, at 9 a.m.) The Royalist newspaper, ‘ Action Francaise,’ is organising a demonstration when Parliament meets on Tuesday. M. Frot has ordered several tanks to be rushed to the city. The whole garrison has been inobolised and two regiments have been brought from other garrisons. CITY FULL OF RUMOURS PARIS, February 5. (Received February 6, at 12.15 p.m.) Although the city is full of alarmist rumours, in which the words “ coup d’etat ” and “revolution ” are freely circulated, well-informed circles state that not a single soldier has been brought to Paris, and that only the normal garrison has been warned to be in readiness for duty to-morrow. Yarious garrisons in the neighbourhood have been similarly warned. Meanwhile the police patrols have been quadrupled, and the mounted Republican Guard posted to the vicinity of the Chamber of Deputies. It is stated that the troops will not be employed unless the police guard is unable to cope with the disturbances.