SCANDAL SPREADS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 291, 8 December 1928, Page 7

SCANDAL SPREADS

HUGE FRENCH FRAUDS MINISTERS NOW INVOLVED (By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright) [ Australian n ress Assn. I Received Dec 7, 8 pan. PARIS, Dec. 7. The Hanau-Block share fraud scandal develops daily. Seven members of the Government, including MAI Poincare, Briancl Loucheur and Leyg’ies are ga>w involved through articles they ar<Palleged to have contributed to the Gazette du France, or the affiliated Gazette des Nations. The newspaper Humanite, publishes a facsimile of a letter from a page ot the Gazette du France, written by M. Poincare, and also charges leading newspapers with having sold space to Madame Hanau, to the value of nearly £2500 a month. This was filled with financial news supplied from the Gazette. There is no doubt, that Hanau cleverly exploited articles on general topics written by distinguished people, but none except the Communists believe that these writers • knew they were being exploited. The magistrate thus far has received 700 complaints from all classes — humble folk, Government officials and social personages. The police are continuing the search of the palatini offices occupied by Hanau..

A message from Paris, published on Thursday, stated- Known as Madame la Presidcnte, a financial wizard, operating one of the most gigantic get-rich-quick schemes over devised, Madame Martha Hanau was to-day arrested, with her divorced husband. Lazaro Bloch.

Among the victims were deputies, priests, nuns, and widows of officers. It is stated that the total amount involved is over £1,090,000 and the Daily Telegraph’s correspondent, even mentions possible losses of £3,500,000. Madame, besides running the Gazette du France, formed five shareinvesting companies and had 4000 agencies in France and abroad