TRAP FOR FRENCH M.P.

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 February 1937, Page 10

TRAP FOR FRENCH M.P.

WHY HE PAID £2,000.

PARIS, December 30.

By a majority of 168 to 135, the French Chamber to-night confirmed the election as deputy for Yvetot, Normandy, of Count Geoffrey de Montalambert, son-in-law of M. de Wendel, the great Lorraine ironmaster. His election had been contested by the Socialists on the grounds that he had paid one of his rivals £2,000 to withdraw before the second ballot at the general election. M. Lambin, speaking for the Socialist Party, said that it was a grave case of corruption. “Count de Montalambert,” he exclaimed, “thought that a constituency could be bought just like a country house.” Count de Montalambert declared that he was caught in a trap. A friend of his rival’s had explained to him that M. Pellier-Cuit had spent considerable sums on electoral expenses during the past six years, had incurred debts, and would be glad if he helped him out of his difficulties in exchange for his retiring at the second ballot in his favour.

“I went in broad daylight to his place with one of his friends,” the Count said, ‘‘but they had hidden photographers in the cupboard of one of the rooms and behind bouquets of flowers. And I, who during the war succeeded in eluding German sentries, allowed myself to be caught in a trap like that.” >