DRAMATIC SCENES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 15, 15 December 1932, Page 7

DRAMATIC SCENES

DEBATE IN FRANCE. GOVERNMENT DEFEATED. M. HERRIOT RESIGNS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) PARIS, Dec. 14. Dramatic soenes were witnessed in the Chamber of Deputies last night during a debate on the Government’s proposal to pay with reservations the instalment of war debt to America due on Thursday. The debate ended with rejection ot the proposal, whereupon the Government resigned. Deputies loudly applauded allegations as to America’s double policy, consisting of intervening in Europe when her interests in Europe required her to do so and then withdrawing when she encountered a disagreeable responsibility. Many speakers alleged that the real motive behind the Hoover Moratorium was the interests of private American creditors whose money was locked up in Germany. Speaker after speaker argued that debt payments were no longer morally justified, since they were no longer covered by Germany. The Chamber was still sitting at 4 o’clock in the morning when M. Herriot rose to make a final appeal to Deputies to accept the Government’s decision to pay, with reservations. One of the most telling speeches during the debate was that of a Conservative Deputy, stressing the point that a creditor who by his action prevented a debtor from fulfilling his engagement thereby lost his right to exact execution of that engagement. This allusion to President Hoover s action in declaring a moratorium which deprived Franco of her credit on Gormany and thereby of the means to pay her own debts, was greeted with an ovation by three-quarters ot the Deputies. M. Chauvin, defending the Government, asked what the British people would think to-morow when they were told that France was paying neither America or Britain. Was it certain that England would demand nothing from Fra.nee? he asked. M. Herriot’s proposal to pay with reservations was defeated by 402 votes to 187. The Government has resigned. M. Herriot declared that if France did not pay America, Great Britain oould not long continue to pav without asking France to pay her. While these scenes were in progress inside the Chamber of Deputies, equally exciting events were proceeding outside. Mounted and foot police guarded all the approaches, while crowds of Rovalists and others demonstrated as close as possible, shouting, Not a cent for America.” , , „ There were several clashes between the police and rioters. The latter threw paving stones at tramcars, tore up iron railings protecting trees in the boulevards and used them as weapons When the police charged, a score ot people were injured and hundreds were arrested. War veterans marched to the statue of George Washington and laid on it a wreath with an inscription against payment of the debt. WILL NOT MAKE PAYMENT. LONDON, Dec. 14. The British United Press correspondent at Paris says that M. Herriot announced that his defeated Government would not make the debt payment to America due to-morrow. FORMING NEW CABINET. PARIS, Dec. 14. The French Chamber rose at 6 a.m. and sits again when the new Government is formed. M. Herriot and other members of Cabinet reached the Elysee at 6.15 and handed in their resignations to President Lebrun, who at J a.m. commenced consultations tot tne formation of a new Cabinet. M Herriot fought heroically less to save' the Government than an endeavour to keep France on the right path to avoid ruining the solidarity with Britain and eloquently claiming: What is at stake in this debate is France s signature.”