LAVAL’S TRIAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 October 1945, Page 5

LAVAL’S TRIAL

HEATED SCENES IN COURT SHOUTING DOWN CONTEST Rec. 12.35. p.m.) PARIS, October 4. The first day of Laval’s trial fended in an uproar, to-night, with.-Judg? Mongibeaux ordering the accused from the Court and announcing the trial would continue to-morrow without Laval' being present. There was a series of extremely heated exchanges between Laval and Mongib'eaux, ending with Laval shouting “All right! Condemn me now—at least, the situation will then be clear.” The charges against Laval include plotting against the security of the State by hindering the Government’s move to North Africa, suppressing the constitution of the republic, creating an authoritarian regime, encouraging racial antagonism, contributing to the loss of the merchant and naval fleets, intelligence with the enemy by negotiating with the Germans, organising the shipment of slave labour ,to the Reich, declaring “I desire victory for Germany,” and facilitating the landing of Axis troops to oppose the Allies in .North Africa. Laval faces a jury drawn from the same panel as that which last night condemned Damand to death. The trial began sensationally when the defence lawyers’ attempted to resign as a protest over what they called the illegal pre-trial examination of their client. There were tumultuous scenes as Laval shouted, I am a patriot and will prove it! Judge Mongibeaux, the prosecutor, Mornet, and all the jurors joined in jumping to their feet to shout him do.wn. The Judge silenced Laval after an angry ' exchange. . Mornet rose to protest against the defence’s allegations. Laval, glaring with hate at Mornet, shouted: You can condemn me, but you have no right to insult me.” The Judge tried to speak, but his voice was drowned by cries from the packed gallery. The police hurried to Laval, who apologised. Mongibeaux suspended the session at 2 p.m., after a further disturbance, in which he refused to let Laval speak.

COUNSEL WITHDRAW After two' adjournments in which the Court found it impossible to persuade or order Laval’s Counsel to resume the defence and refused Laval s application for a postponement, accused again entered the Court. Counsel refused to continue the defence on the grounds they had insufficient time to prepare the case. Mongibeaux announced the trial would continue without counsel. They had two-and-a-half months to prepare the case and he was convinced they could present an- adequate defence if they wanted to Laval then declared he would conduct his own defence. In a statement to the Court Laval said that when he reached Bordeaux in .1940, the decision to sign the armistice was already taken and it was President le Brun and others who should be m the dock not he. Accused added he told them there could be no two opinions about the armistice, which was a question for the military authorities. He had three main policies firstly, never to declare wAr against AngloSaxons. Secondly, never to accept German rule. Thirdly, never to allow adventurers to take office. Asked why he counselled le Brun not to go to North Africa, Laval said: ‘I thought going to Africa would be madness. The Spanish Government would have welcomed the Germans, who would have struck through Spam and the French could not have prevented the invasion of. Africa.” Attempting to justify collaboration, Laval declared he was working under the noses of the Germans, and collaboration was his only course. Laval then asked the Court to adjourn because he was too tired. He began repeating the former argument that the trial should be postponed ■to enable him to prepare a case. Mongibeaux and Laval began a heated discussion across the court, each talking furiously. The judge finally shouted: “If you interrupt again, you will be removed.” Laval broke in angrily, whereupon the judge shouted “take him out.” Laval shrugged his shoulders and replied “I go out myself”. . The sitting ended with the judge ordering the arrest of a son of Pierre Cathala, one of Laval’s ex-ministers, who as a spectator applauded Laval’s remark: “All right condemn me now —at least the situation will then be clear.”