FINAL CHAPTER.

Franklin Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 139, 3 December 1934, Page 8 (Supplement)

FINAL CHAPTER.

THE RIOTS IN FRANCE. COMMISSION’S REPORT. The first chapter in the evolution of a new France, which opened with the angry roar of a rioting mob and the battle of revolver, shots, has just been brought to a quiet and almost unnoticed close, says the “Christian Science Monitor.” A Parliamentary Commission appointed to investigate the tragic events of February 6 has concluded that the Government of the day did not give the order to fire upon the crowd in the Place de la Concorde. Four months, almost to a minute, before the Commission published its decision, a Deputy rose dramatically to his feet in the Chamber of Beputj( s and shouted at M. Edouard Daladier, who was speaking from the tribune: “Assassin! They are firing on the mob! You gave the order to fire!” Instantly the noise and confusion outside was reproduced on a minor scale in the Chamber. The next day

—and for many weeks —the Paris Press almost unanimously took up the charge, completely ignoring the fact, pointed out at the time, that the police and troops had fired only as a last resort in defence, not only of the Deputies, but of their own safety.

The Parliamentary Commission’s decision has now confirmed that observation, for it not only absolved completely M. Daladier, M. Eugene Frot, his Minister of the Interior, and the entire Cabinet from any responsibility, but it concluded that the police and guards fired spontaneously in legitimate self-defence, which • was justified because of the violence of the attacks upon them. It also came to the conclusion that neither the Prefect of Police nor any other police officer or commissioner had given the order to fire, although it was considered probable some of them had advised the police to fire into the air. By an unanimous vote, the Commission 1 declared that, contrary to the affirmation of a number of witnesses, no machine-guns, automatic rifles, or rifles had been fired on the Place de la Concorde. It was decided, by a vote of 14 to 6. that numerous revolver shots were fired at the police before 7.20 —that is to say, before the police or guards themselves began to fire. The prescribed “sommation” or bugle call warning was given, it was decided. but not immediately before the firing began.

“It. seems that by a better organisation of the services for preserving order the firing could have been avoided.” the Commission concluded by a vote of 12 to 6. “The gravest mistakes were the following: The Prefecture de Police, adequate for keeping order under normal circumstances., was not organised for repressing riots>

This gave rise to numerous errors, including confusion of the different units, poorly organised command, and the absence of efficacious and less offensive weapons than firearms (powerful searchlights, tear-gas bombs.

barbed wire). The Municipal Police did not call for enough Mobile Guards. The available forces at the Place de i la Concorde were insufficient.” The police, it was acknowledged, were guilty of needless, brutality.. On the other hand rioters were found to' have been armed with clubs, iron bars, loaded canes, and razors. The demonstrators. it was decided, had wilfully set fire to the Ministry of Marine (on the corner of the Place) and

the individuals responsible, it was agreed, could not be identified. Finally it was established that the rioters had definitely made massed assaults

on the Chamber of Deputies.;. The relative silence with which the Press has received these reports is probably due to its disinclination to disavow its first mistaken attitude. The general lukewarmness of public interest, however, is more significant, and would seem to indicate that the French police as a whole would like to forget the unfortunate episodes, of the Place de la Concorde, and let'.the evolution —or, as many insist, the ,re-voution—-of a rejuvenated France continue. along the more gradual and peaceful lines pointed out by their smiling Prime Minister, M. Gaston Doumergue. _______