FRENCH CABINET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22351, 24 February 1936, Page 10

FRENCH CABINET

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE BICKERING IN CHAMBER LONDON, Feb. 21 A message from Paris states that M. Sarraut's Ministry received an overwhelming vote of confidence —by 380 votes to 151 —on a .snap division taken in the Chamber of Deputies on the question of the suppression of the Royalist leagues. The Opposition accused the Government of holding tho scales unevenly between the Right and Left organisations, • declaring that M. Sarraut was the prisoner of the socialists, as he wanted a quick - ratification of the Franco-Soviet pact. M. Sarraut replied that the recent mob attack on M. Blum was the outcome of a long campaign of provocation similar to that which resulted in the assassination of M. Jaures at the outbreak of the war.

M. Franklin-Bouillon accused M. Sarraut; of responsibility for the assassination of King Alexander and M. Bartbou. The Premier retorted: "Blackguard 1" On the resumption of the sitting M. Franklin-Bouillon provoked a fresh scene by attacking M. Sarraut, declaring that he had indulged in the vocabulary of a fishwife instead of a Prime Minister. He demanded an apology, but his friends interposed and secured a settlement.

A violent incident occurred in the lobbies, where a Right Wing deputy, M. Henriot, clashed with a Communist, M. Ramette, who slapped his face. M. Henriot is seeking a remedy in the Courts.

The Daily Mail's Paris correspondent regards the heated debate in the Chamber as indicating a growing feverish temperature owing to M. Sarraut's alliance with the Communists and to fears of increased Communist propaganda, should tho Franco-Soviet pact be ratified.

The newspapers print instructions from the Third (Communist) International, nlleged to have been sent to French Communists, ordering an agitation in tho Army and in the transport and mail services, and preparations for tho repression of Fascists, of whom secret lists should be drawn up.