GRAFT IN FRANCE

Hawera Star, Volume L, 16 January 1931, Page 5

GRAFT IN FRANCE

POLITICAL CRISIS LIKELY INQUIRIES OF COMMISSION HIGH OFFICIALS SUSPECTED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright). LONDON, Jau. 1L Charges of bribery and corruption arising out of the failure ox the OustriG Dank and associated concerns in November, involving the defeat of the Tardieu Cabinet, are likely to cause a second political crisis shortly, says the Paris correspondent of the | ‘Daily Mail.” As an outcome, of a Parliamentary commission's inquiries three prominent ex-Ministers will probably be impeached before the Senate and High Court on charges of corruption. \\ itnes-ses are daily revealing an almost incredible state of affairs in which bankers and financiers are alleged to have set aside large sums for bribery of Government officials, deputies, ex-Ministers and police heads. Numbers of high officials in the police and other Government circles have resigned during the past few days. , M. Oustric, founder of the bank, was arrested on November 28 and charged with frauds exceeding £10,000,000- by manipulating Bourse prices by means of a newspaper jcajled “Bourse _i et Finance,” which published fictitious quotations. Following the arrest MM. Falcoz and Lautier, members of M. Tardieu’s 'Government, resigned, as they had relations with the Oustric Bank and “wished to be free to explain tlieir connection with the bank to the commission of inquiry which is appointed.” M. Tardieu asked the House for a vote of confidence. After a. passionate speech by the Premier there was a stormy debate in which the Opposition suggested that the •Government was seriously affected by the Oustric ease. M Tardieu at that debate secured a vote of confidence bv 293 votes to 279 The smallness of the majority caused a sensation in Paris. Later M. Tardieu had to resign.