M. DALADIER’S PROMISES

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1934, Page 5

M. DALADIER’S PROMISES

STORMY SCENE IN CHAMBER INQUIRY INTO SCANDAL ACTION AGAINST RIOTERS Rec. 7 p.m. Paris, Feb. 7. M. Daladier, standing on the tribune of the Chamber of Deputies, awaited silence. Eventually he was able to deliver his declaration proposing a Parliamentary commission of inquiry into the Stavisky case and the merciless punishment of all whom the commission denounced. He affirmed the retention of the gold standard and declared the Budget must be passed. He promised to deal with unemployment and renovate the antiquated fiscal system. He reaffirmed France’s desire for peace and security, and adherence to the League of Nations friendships. He finally denounced deputies for wasting time, and announced that he would accept no interpellations to-day. He made the motion a vote of confidence.

M. Tardieu protested that the Government had introduced the menace of Fascism. The Communists shouted “Gorgouloff!” recalling that M. Tardieu was Prime Minister when Gorgouloff assassinated M. Doumer.

Finally M. Daladier moved the closure, whereupon the Chamber affirmed confidence in the Government by 302 votes to. 204. Meanwhile thousands of Camelots, Du Roi syndicalists, Communists, Socialists and members of the Fiery Cross and extremist ex-servicemen’s organisations gathered in the neighbourhood of the Hotel de Ville shouting “Down with the Government!” “Imprison Chiappe!” Excitement increased as darkness fell. Hooliganism broke out in the Rue de Rivoli. Tobacconists’ kiosks were overturned and fired. A mob in the Place de la Concorde fired a motor-bus, private cars and newspaper vans and formed barricades. They also fired the Ministry of Marine, of which several offices were burned before the blaze was extinguished. POLICE USE SABRES. Mounted police charged repeatedly, sabring the assailants. The mob was prevented from reaching the Chamber of Deputies by the mobile police firing and wounding 200 and allegedly killing several. .The rioting is continuing. M. Daladier issued a proclamation after midnight that proof had been obtained from those arrested that an armed attempt would be made against the security of the State. An emergency meeting of Cabinet had decided to take immediate legal action against the leaders of the riot.

The police say twelve were killed. A charge of provocation to murder has been launched against Charles Maurass, editor with Leon Daudet of the Royalist paper Action Francaise, which called the Royalists to demonstrate against the Government M. Sebour has prohibited all street gatherings and processions. M. Daladier lengthily conferred with the President before going to the Ministry of the Interior, where he also conferred with the public prosecutor. Republican guards cleared the Place de la Concorde with revolvers and sabres. The spectacle on the de la Concorde bridge was frightful. Scores of men and horses were wounded. The total injured in to-night’s riots cannot be less than 1000. The Place de la Concorde was finally cleared at one o’clock in the morning. Communists continued the attack and set fire to motor buses elsewhere. The deputies left the Chamber in small groups by a back door leading to the Rue de I’Universite at 2 o’clock. Rioting is proceeding in the gardens of the Tuilleries, the crowd smashing marble urns, statues and stone benches. It is reported that anti-Govemment outbreaks have also occurred at Marseilles, Lyons, Lille, Nancy, Mantes, Rouen, Arras and Dijon. Newspaper correspondents still bef sieged the Chamber at 9 o’clock. Troops | are now (at 3 o’clock) pouring into the . centre of Paris. It is reported that M. Daladier wished I the President to sign a decree instituting ! a state of siege, but this is not con- ! firmed. | Two companies of colonial troops are i guarding the Ministry of the Interior for | a “council of war” with M. Frot and I other Ministers.