FRENCH COMMUNISTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19349, 9 December 1924, Page 7

FRENCH COMMUNISTS

RUMOURS OF A COUP. MANY ARRESTS EFFECTED. DEPORTATION OF ALIENS. Press Association— By Telegraph— Copyright. PARIS, December 6.

In reference to the Communist scare, it is even rumoured that a revolutionary coup is being planned for a particular day in December. It is noteworthy that the French police were active to-day in rounding up Communist suspects in Paris. Eight hundred police raided the Communist quarters at Bobimiy (a suburb of Pans), paying special attention to the Leninist School, where it is alleged that seditious instruction is given. Four hundred arrests were made, 70 persons ultimately being detained including a Communist ex-depnty. It ia ’stated that documents were found revealing a plot to effect a Communist coup iii Pans very shortly. The police intend to raid other suburbs and search for stores of hidden rifles. It is announced that, as the result of the police operations, the Minister for the Interior has issued an expulsion order against 60 foreign Communist agents, comprising 43 Italians, six Poles, seven Belgians, one Serb, one Swiss, one Swede, and one German.’ It is understood that the Government is continuing closely to watch foreigners, and is disposed to take fresh measures against any suspected of participating in preparations for a revolutionary movement. M. Ilcrriot’s reply to M. Cachin (affirming his intention to fight Communism) was made in tho course of a debate in tho Chamber of Deputies on the Navy Estimates, when the Communists violently attacked the Government. The Chamber eventually refused M. Cachin leave to move an interpellation on the subject of Deputy Leflanche’s suspension.—Reuter and A. and N.Z. Cable.

the alleged plot. CIRCUMSTANTIAL DETAILS, PARIS, December 7. The newspapers are publishing details of the alleged Communist revolutionary Pl The Echo Du Nord declares that the different Communist “cells” have already received complete indications of the measures to be taken for a Communist rising. For example, the first step at iourcomg will be the occupation of the Town Hall at midnight by armecr bands, after which the Communists will endeavour to win over the crowd by announcing that henceforth meat will cost 50 per cent less than it does at present, and that all the bakers shops will be taken over by the Communists.—Reuter. u 7 LONDON, December 7. The Weekly Dispatch says that the arrested Communists in Tar is are mostly Russians, acting officers of Red platoons which have been organised throughout trance. The Communists are reported to have installed three wireless transmitting stations near Paris, ready to iss y e 111 ' structions in the event of a revolution. Further raids and arrests have been made in Marseilles, Lyons, and Lille. —Sydney Sun Cable. ALIEN© DEPORTED. DEMONSTRATION AGAINST M. HERRIOT. PARIS, December 7. (Received Dec. 8, at 5.5 p.m.) The round-up in the Communist quarters of the city yesterday produced a bag of 15 undesirable aliens, comprising six Belgians, six Italians, and one Swiss. All have been deported. . The police took special precautions at Roubaix to-day on the occasion of the visit of M. Herriot to attend a banquet Numbers of Communists md Royahsto booed the Prime Minister on his auival, and scuffles occurred as M. Herriot drove ihrouch the streets. A score of Royalist youths who were arrested were subseauently released. The Communists headed bv Deputy Cachin, paraded the streets during the banquet shouting Vivo Sadoul;” “Vive la revolution. M. Cachin delivered a speech which was not marked by any incident. M Herriot subsequently returned to Pans. Reuter. SPREAD OF COMMUNISM. WARNING TQ M. KRASSIN. LONDON, December 7. The Paris correspondent of The Times states: “The growing strength of the Communist movement in France is alarming all moderate Frenchmen, who are convinced that the Communist flames will spread still further now that M. _ Krassin has been installed in the Soviet Embassy. M Krassin has declared that he had no intention of interfering with I ranees internal affairs, but even the Ere Nouvelle (the leading Government organ) is not prepared to take him at his word and warns him that he will be judged by Ins acts. If the Bolshevists, it says, take advantage of diplomatic immunity in order to pursue their propaganda in France, either directly or indirectly, M. Krassin must be handed his passports, -the Times. EX-CAPTAIN SADOUL. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COURTMARTIAL.

PARIS, December 7. Ex-captain Sadoul has been taken to Orleans, where he will be court-martialled. —Reuter. _____________