UPROAR IN COURT

Southland Times, Issue 25796, 6 October 1945, Page 5

UPROAR IN COURT

FIRST DAY OF LAVALTRIAL JUDGE AND ACCUSED. CLASH (Rec. 8 p.m.) PARIS, October 4. The first clay of Pierre Laval’s trial ended in an uproar tonight, with Judge Mongibeaux ordering the accused from the court and announcing that the trial would continue tomorrow without Laval being present. There was a series of heated exchanges between Laval and Judge Mongibeaux, ending with Laval shouting: “All right, condemn me now—at least the situation will then be clear.” The charges against Laval include plotting against the security of the State by hindering the Government’s move to North Africa, suppressing the Constitution of the Republic and creating an authoritarian regime, encouraging racial antagonism, contributing to the loss of the merchant and naval fleets by intelligence with the enemy and by negotiating with the Germans organizing the shipment of slave labour to the Reich, and facilitating the landing of Axis troops to oppose the Allies in North Africa. Laval faces a jury drawn from the same panel as that which last night condemned Joseph Darnand, the Vichy militia chief, to death. The trial began sensationally when the defence lawyers attempted to resign as a protest over what they called

the illegal examination of their client before his trial. There were tumultuous scenes as Laval shouted: “I am patriot and will prove it.” Judge Mongibeaux, the prosecutor, M. Andrew Mornet, and all the jurors joined in, jumping to their feet to shout him down. The Judge silenced Laval after an angry exchange and M. Mornet rose to protest against the defence allegations. Laval, glaring with hate at M. Mornet, shouted: “You can condemn me, but you have no right to insult me.” The Judge tried to speak, but his voice was drowned by cries from the packed gallery. The police hurried to Laval, who apologized. Judge Mongibeaux suspended the session at 2 p.m. after a further disturbance in which he refused to let Laval speak. TWO ADJOURNMENTS After two adjournments in which the court found it impossible to persuade ox- order Laval’s counsel to resume his defence and refused Laval’s application for a postponement, toe accused again entered toe court. Counsel refused to continue the defence on toe grounds that there was insufficient time to prepare a case. Judge Mongibeaux announced that toe trial would continue without counsel. They had had two and a-half months to prepare a case and he was convinced that they could present an adequate defence if they wanted to. Laval then declared that he would conduct his own defence. In a statement to the court Laval said that when he reached Bordeaux in 1940 the decision to sign an armistice had already been taken, and it was M. Lebrun and others who should be in the dock and not he. The accused added that he told them that there could be no two opinions about any armistice, which was a question for the military authorities. He had had three main policies. First, never to declare war against AngloSaxons; second, never to accept German rule; third, never to allow adventurers to take office. Asked why he counselled M. Lebrun not to go to North Africa, Laval said: “I thought that going to Africa would be madness. The Spanish Government would have welcomed the Germans, who would have struck through Spain, and the French could not have prevented an invasion of Africa.” TOO TIRED TO CONTINUE Attempting to justify his collaboration, Laval declared .that he was working under the noses of the Germans and collaboration was his only course. Laval then asked toe court to adjourn because he was too tired. He began repeating his former argument that the trial should be postponed to enable him to prepare his case. Judge Mongibeaux and Laval began a heated discussion across the court, each talking furiously. The Judge finally shouted: “If you interrupt again you will be removed,” Laval broke in angrily, whereupon the Judge shouted: “Take him out.” Laval shrugged his shoulders and replied: “I shall go out myself.” The sitting ended with the Judge ordering the arrest of the son of Pierre Cathala, one of Laval’s former Ministers, who as a spectator applauded Laval’s remark: “All right condemn me now—at least the situation will then be clear.”