GERMERSHEIM VERDICT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume LVIV, Issue 83, 24 December 1926, Page 5

GERMERSHEIM VERDICT

FRENCH PRESS VIEW. ALLEGED PROVOCATION. LONDON, December 22. The Times' Pans currespotiijdent says that when the general, known as "Hoesch" had bean ordered to renionstrato against tne uermersheim verdict, this knowledge was exacted to cause almost'as much indignation throughout France" as tne verdict appears to have caused in Germany. The majority of Fans newspapers support the judge's ttiesis that the incidents at Germersneim were tlie» result of German .Nationalist provocation, and that Lieutenajnt Rouzier had the right to benefit by extenuating circumstances. The French Commissioners remark that the incidents culminating in the affray dated from the introduction of a more lenient policy in the Rhineland, after the Locarno Paot. The incident has attracted wide attention. Both French and Germans agreed that the- incidents were the result ; of provocations, but, whereas the Germans consider the French occupation was the root cause,' the French maintain that the nerv-ous state o|j the -town, which made incidents possible, was deliberately and artificially created by German agitators in an attempt to hasten the' withdrawal of the French garrison. PRESSMEN'S" PROTEST, -h^ PARIS, December 22. The German journalists, who daily reported the Rouzier case, have sent M. Briand a protest against the Council of War's extraordinary judgment, which is classed as a serious attack oh tho German people and the civilised world's conception of justice. FRENCH PRESS gjJ>g!flOHftV • i (Received 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, December 2X The "Petit Parisien"- staTes that the German Ambassador officially informed M. Befthelot that, the unfortunate impression which the Landau verdict has created in Germany •is likely to adversely affect the FrancoGerman • rapprochement. The . "Petit'cParlesien," commentTho. "Petit Parisien," commenting on German press protests, says they are not .nearly so concerned with the defence of those sentenced as with the speedy evacuation of Rhineland. "Le Journal" recalls the scandalous manner in which Germany treated the Allied demands for punishment of offenders against the common law.

The "Ere Nouvelle" says the offenders should be released. "Gaulois" asks: Is Locarno to be jeopardised for the sake of a mere legal affair. The says French Government will treat the Sentenced men with clemency.