PRESIDENT ACTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22344, 15 February 1936, Page 13

PRESIDENT ACTS

OFFENDERS PUNISHED % ORGANISATIONS DISSOLVED EXCITEMENT IN CHAMBER By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright PARIS, Feb. 13 The news of the attack on M. Blum caused a sensation in the Chamber of Deputies. M. Bouisson, President, immediately voiced a protest against the outrage, and paid a tribute to M. Blum. M. Sarraut, Prime Minister, said the Government would act with firmness and promptitude, not only against the attackers, but the political centres responsible for these organised attacks. M. Sarraut said he would ask the next Council of Ministers to suppress outlaw organisations in accordance with the laws passed in January. The Government considered it intolerable that the safety of citizens should be endangered in a country of liberty. Only a miracle had prevented M. Blum from being killed. MM. Herriot, Arriol and Bouillon re-echoed these sentiments on behalf of their respective parties. Dramatic Sequence of Events M. Soulier rose to speak on behalf of the Right, but the Socialists cried: " No, not you," while cries of "Assassin" and the crashing of lids of desks made speech impossible. The President clanged his bell and adjourned the sitting. A delegation of Leftists, including MM. Herriot and Daladier, met M. Sarraut after the sitting of the Chamber and demanded the arrest of the Royalist leaders, MM. Leon Daudet and Maurras, and the dissolution of L'Action Francaise without waiting for a meeting of the Cabinet. Dramatic events swiftly followed the deputation of Leftists. M. Sarraut hurriedly consulted M. Lebrun, President, and an emergency meeting of the Cabinet ensued, at which the Government decided to dissolve the Royalist organisations.

In the meantime the police had raided the headquarters of L'Action Francaise after a skirmish with a party of Royalists returning to their headquarters with banners unfurled, and 20 arrests were made. M. Daudet walked into the headquarters during the raid, and when told of the dissolution of the organisation shrugged his shoulders and said he did not care. Responsible Bodies Disbanded The next development was the issue of a decree signed by M. Lebrun dissolving L'Action Francaise, which, it is estimated, has 60,000 members. The headquarters are the offices of the Royalist newspaper of the same name. The decree also dissolves a federation of students attached to the organisation, and the National Federation of Cainelots du Roi, who are the young shock troops of the movement. The Public Prosecutor has appointed M. Linais to conduct an inquiry as to who was responsible for the attack on M. Blum.

M. Sarraut conferred with the Prefect of Police regarding precautions against demonstrations and the preservation of order in Paris.