DEATH OF M. DOUMER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21640, 10 May 1932, Page 7

DEATH OF M. DOUMER

BODY TO LIE IN STATE PRINCE OF WALES TO ATTEND FUNERAL (United Press Association.) ! (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) ' ■ PARIS, May 8. France polled at the second ballot with a heavy heart, the assassination of M. Doumer oppressing the electors. There were no demonstrations or disturbances. The Prince of Wales will represent their Majesties at the State funeral on 3Vlay 12. The body is being placed in the reception hall for the lying in state on a great catafalque, flanked by tall candles, with high officers of the services and the President’s personal staff standing immobile with drawn swords. The public will be admitted in the afternoon, when there will be a long procession ■ of bearers with magnificent wreaths. The Archbishop of Paris will celebrate requiem mass, and the remains will, be interred in the Pantheon. M. Tardieu will deliver the oration at the graveside. M, Le Brun has announced his candidature for the Presidency. Other possibles are M. Painleve and M, Laval. Gougouloff' spent the day pacing his cell and muttering prayers. He demanded paper and wrote his will. M. Doumer’s assailant is believed to be a madman. The examining magistrate appointed three alienists to examine him. THE KING’S SYMPATHY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 7. A profound impression has been caused here by the news of M. Doumer’s death. The King, who had been kept closely informed of the President’s condition, was deeply distressed when he was informed. A message expressing Srofound sympathy on behalf of the dng and Queen has been sent to Madame Doumer through the British Embassy in Paris. Their Majesties have cancelled their proposed visit to the theatre tonight. EFFECT ON ELECTIONS. COMMUNISTS EXPECTED TO SUFFER. 9 ' PARIS, May 8. The assassination of President Doumer is expected to mean the loss of tnany votes by the Communists at today’s second ballots, but it is unlikely that it will greatly affect the final result. If the Radicals and Socialists make the expected gains M. Tardieu’s majority will melt into, a small Left majority, with ,M. Herriot as Prime Minister. This would not. imply a change in France’s foreign policy. SWING TO THE LEFT. M. TARDIEU’S DEFEAT CERTAIN. PARIS, May 8. The swing to the Left was maintained by the first results, covering 128 of the undecided 356 seats. The Opposition captured 74, and the Government lost 26. The defeat of M. Tardieu is now certain.

DECISIVE VICTORY FOR LEFT. GOVERNMENT’S HEAVY LOSSES. PARIS, May 9. (Received May 9, at 7 p.m.) The Left gained a more decisive victory than was anticipated, having a majority of at least 87. Progress results show the strength of Government parties to he 259,, and anti-Government, including Communists, 332. Owing to the fluctuating attitude and composition of different political groups the figures are only approximate. The Government lias lost at least-01 seats in to-day’s ballot. M. Herriot declares that he is delighted for his party. He can say nothing more at present, as the only thing he can think of is the Lyons catastrophe. ELECTION DECIDED ON DOMESTIC ISSUES. LONDON, May 9. (Received May 9, at 7.50 p.m.) The News-Chronicle’s Paris correspondent says: “M. Harriot's triumph is due to the high cost of living, unemployment, taxation; and the depression. The election was fought on domestic issues, which are unlikely to affect France’s foreign policy.”' A GROWING OPINION. ASSASSIN A BOLSHEVIST AGENT. PARIS, May 9* vßeceived May 9, at 9.30 p.m.) “ Leave my husband until to-morrow," pleaded Madame Doumer, who, with her two daughters, is now watching the body lying in a brass bedstead in a green salon. The wounds in the cheek have been carefully hidden and the face has regained its serenity. The remains will be placed in a coffin on Monday and will be taken to the Grand Salle des Fetes, where they will be placed in a catafalque with a background of the tricolours. Here the public will be admitted to pay its last respects. '*• General Miller, the White Russian loader, declares that Gougouloff was an agent of the Russian secret service. This, be claims, is proved by the fact that be always had money, though Madame Gougouloff states that her husband lived last year on her dowry of £320 and £BO which he earned. The opinion, however, Is growing in France that Gougouloff in reality is a Bolshevist, agent. M. Millerand, an ex-president, definitely states that Gougouloff is a Red Russian.

It is expected that the anti-Tardieu majority will be 80. The consequent victory for the Left threatens to change the aspect of the presidential election, as M. Le Brun represents the Right. M. Painleve, as a candidate for the Left, may now be persuaded to make a determined effort to secure election, and will have a fair chance of success. DOMINION’S SYMPATHY. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 9. Reference to the assassination of the French President was made in the House of Representatives this morning. Expressing the deep grief occasioned fcy .'receipt of the news, Mr Forbes moved that the following resolution be conveyed through the proper channels for presentation to the Government of France: —’“That the members of the House of Representatives of the Dominion of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled, desire to place on record their sorrow at the tragic death of the President of France, M. Paul Doumer, and tender their sympathy to the people of France in the great national loss they have sustained. Further, the

House respectfully offers to Madame Doumer its heartfelt condolence in her bereavement.” The motion was seconded by the Leader of the Opposition, who endorsed the sentiments expressed, and was carried unanimously. The Legislative Council passed a similar resolution. LOCAL CONSULAR CORPS. Flags were half-mast to-day over the various consulates, in the city out of respect to the memory of the President of France, and the local Consular Corps has expressed its sympathy to Mr S. E. D. Neill, Consul for France. POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS. June 23, 1914—Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, and his wife, Countess Sophie Choteh, at Sarajevo. July 31, 1914—Jean D. Jaurcs, French Socialist leader. July 28, 1915 —Guillaume Sam, President of Hayti. July 5, 1918 —General Count von Mirbach, German Ambassador to Russia, at Moscow. July 16, 1918—Tsar of Russia and family, also his brother, the Grand Duke Michael Alexander, at Ekaterinburg. July 31, 1918 —German Field-Marshal von Eichhom, in the Ukraine. October 21, 1918—Austrian Premier, Count Karl Sturgkt. November, 1918—Count Stephen Tiza, ex-President of the Hungarian Privy Council. December 14, 1918—Sidonio Paes, President of Portugal. February 20, 1919—Habibullah Khan, Ameer of Afghanistan. February 21, 1919—Kurt Eisner, Premier of Bavaria. April 12, 1919—Herr Neuring, German Minister for War.

October 8, 1919—Hugo Haase, president of the German Socialist Party. May 20, 1920—General V. Caranza, President of Mexico.

June 13, 1920—Essad Pasha, Albanian Leader at Paris.

March 8, 1921—S.enor Dato, Premier of Spain. March 15, 1921—Talaat Paasha, exGrand Vizier of Turkey. August 26, 1921 —M. Erzberger, exGerman Vice-Chancellor.

October 19, 1921—Antonio Gran jo, Premier of Portugal, also ex-President Machado dos Santos, and two other high officials.

October 22, 1921—M. Demitroff, Bulgarian Minister for War. November 4, 1921 —Ta Kashi Hara, Premier of Japan. June 22, 1922—Field-Marshal Sir Henry Wilson. June 24, 1922 —Dr Walter Rathenau, German Foreign Minister. July 25, • 1922—Djemel Pasha, exTurkish Minister for Marine. ,

August 22, 1922—General Michael Collins.

December 16, 1922 —Gabriel Narutoweicz, first President of Poland. June 15, 1923—Alex. Stamboulisky, ex-Premier of Bulgaria.

June .29, 1923 —General J. C. Gomez, first ViceTPresident of Venezuela.

August 26, 1923—M. Daskaloff, Bulgarian Ambassador to Czechoslovakia. June 10, 1924—Giacomo Matteotti, Moderate Socialist Leader in the Italian Parliament.

February 13, 1925—Professor Nicola Mileff, Bulgarian Minister-designate to the United States.

May 25, 1926—General Simon Petlura, ex-President of the Ukranian Republic! June 7, 1927—Peter L. Voikoff, Soviet Minister to Poland.

July 10, 1927—Kevin O’Higgins, VicePresident of the Irish Free State.

May 20, 1928—General Luis Mena, ex-President of Nicaragua.

July 17, 1928—General Alvara Obregon, ex-President of Mexico. June 7, 1930 —Dr Albert von Balignand, German Minister to Portugal; July 26, 1930—Joao Pessoa, President of the Brazilian State of Parahyba.