DEATH OF M. DOUMER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21643, 13 May 1932, Page 7

DEATH OF M. DOUMER

KING’S DEEP CONCERN

“ A DETESTABLE CRIME.” (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 11. The King, in thanking the House of Commons for its loyal and dutiful address informing him of the deep concern and indignation with which members learned of the assassination of the President of the French Republic, says: “I fully share the sentiments to which your address gave expression, and I will take care to convey to the Government of the French Republic the sense of abhorrence which, in common with myself, you feel for this detestable crime, and the sympathy for the family of the late President and for the Government and people of France, which it has called forth in this country and throughout the British Commonwealth and the whole of the civilised world.” PRINCE OF WALES LEAVES FOR FRANCE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 11. The Prince of Wales left London by boat train this afternoon for Paris, where he will attend the funeral of M. Doumer. The Prince cancelled his plans for flying to Paris owing to unfavourable weather. AN INSURANCE CLAIM UNDERWRITERS INTRIGUED. LONDON, May 11. The underwriters are intrigued by a claim for £37,000 upon the life of M, Doumer. The policy was taken out 11 months ago, and had a month to run when he was assassinated, the premium paid being £7O. The policy belongs to a Dutchman. The relatives of M. Doumer in no way benefit. The policy is not marked “ Proof of interest,” so presumably it is a bona fide business precaution, but careful inquiries are being made as other possibilities cannot be ruled out.

GOUGOULOFF’S CONFESSION OTHER ASSASSINATIONS PLANNED. PARIS, May 12. (Received May 12, at 7.15 p.m.) Gougouloff wanted to kill Marshal Hindenburg, M. Masaryk, and M. Lenin according to his extraordinary admissions to an examining magistrate. M. Masaryk received and treated him so pleasantly that he abandoned the idea of the assassination. The Reds killed his father. He joined the White Army, and had to flee to Prague, whence he could not return to Russia to kill Lenin. A Russian witness alleged that Gougouloff visited Russia several times, and returned with large sums of money. NATION’S FINAL TRIBUTES THE FUNERAL CORTEGE. PARIS, May 12. (Received May Rl, at 0.30 a.m.) Under leaden skies M. Doumcr’s body was taken from the Elysee preceded by the Republican Guard and cavalrymen. The procession, which was two miles long, followed an open hearse drawn by eight black horses, behind which marched the Prince of Wales, the King of the Belgians, the Emperor of Annum, the Duke of Aosta, and other representatives of 40 nations. M. Le Brun, the new President, marched with the family mourners. Thousands of troops marched to the beat of muffled drums, and others, with fixed bayonets, guarded the route of the cortege.

The body was taken to the Pantheon for the funeral orations, after which it was interred in the family vault at Vaugirard. Elaborate precautions were taken to guard foreign notabilities. As the funeral passed the State prison Gougouloff paced his cell offering prayers for the salvation of France.

Flags were flown in the city at halfmast yesterday on the occasion of the funeral of M. Doumer.