ALL QUIET ONCE MORE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20232, 16 February 1934, Page 7

ALL QUIET ONCE MORE.

French Chamber’s Confidence in Doumergue. United Press Assn. — By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received February 16, 1.20 p.m.) PARIS, February 15. In striking contrast to the last meeting of the Chamber of Deputies amid the riot turmoil and under a guard of 3000 police and soldiers, only six gendarmes joined the customary handful outside the Chamber when, after a brief session. M. Doumergue secured a vote of confidence as Premier. Apart from the Communist cries of “ Assassins, you have killed the workers,” he faced a comparatively calm Chamber: He read the Government’s declaration, which also was delivered in the Senate by M. Cheron, demanding a party truce, justice, a moral re-awak-ening, a balanced Budget and stable currency. It asserted that peace in France would powerfully guarantee world peace and would enable the country to play a useful role in the League. A political truce would enable a dispassionate pursuit and punishment of the guilty parties. Loud applause greeted the declaration, though the reference to the League was received in significant silence. M. Doumergue, despite a renewal of the Communist booing, addressing the House in a paternal manner, said: “ I am not Premier for the sake of ambition. When I learned that blood was flowing in the streets of Paris, and that my acceptance was regarded as a prelude to returning peace, I came at once. You know, if you are not blind and deaf, what is going on bej'ond our frontiers. I cannot perform miracles, but you can do that by inspiring France and Frenchmen to rally round this old man.” M. Blum denounced the curtailment of the debate as a Fascist coup d’etat, and urged an immediate dissolution. M. Montagnon, a Neo-Socialist, asserted his party’s loyalty, but insisted upon the exposure of the Stavisky scandals. M. Coy, a Radical, appeared with his head bandaged, a result of the riots. He asserted that all war veterans had the right to demonstrate. M. Chautemps declared his faith in M. Doumergue, and promised him his support. He hoped that the truce would continue. The Government applied the closure, and a vote of confidence resulted in 402 votes for and 125 against. There were abstentions. The Stavisky inquiries have been postponed until after the Budget has been discussed.