DEATH OF CLEMENCEAU

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17877, 25 November 1929, Page 5

DEATH OF CLEMENCEAU

THE LAST SCENES. REMARKABLE BOOK FINIBHED. REPLY TO HIS CRITICS. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel.—Copyright PARIS, Nov. 24. M. Georges Clemencoau, the noted French statesman, died early this morning, aged 88. The “Tiger" was prostrated yesterday by an attack of abdominal colio. He was given frequent injections of morphine in the night and his relatives were assembled at his bedside. The doctors said M. Glcinenccau’s Iron will was shaken, and there was disquieting exhaustion, which made his condition serious. The patient was not expected to last many hours. At midnight he sank into a torpor bordering on complete delirium. Only occasionally did lie recognise his relatives.

Earlier in the evening the “ Tiger " indicated that he realised the end was near by discussing his own burial. He said he resented the Idea of a State funeral, and ho besought his relatives not to announce his death until two days after the eyent. In the meanwhile they were to take his body to his country home at Vendee and bury it in an upright position beside his father’s grave.

No Womon Prosont. In a lucid interval M. Clemonceau characteristically said he did not want any women round his doath-bed. He even asked that his sister, Thconeste, who nursed him in his illnesses, should not be allowed to be present in his last moments. Nevertheless, the dying man murmured, when he saw his sister kneeling at the bedside in tears, “ I am not going to prevent you praying for me." There was no traco of sarcasm in his voice, only tenderness and respect for one so devoted to him. In the afternoon a priest, Monsignor de Lavattc, who, in spite of M. Clcmcnceau’s anti-clericalism, was an old friend, called at the house. He said afterwards that he gave his blessing through the half-opened door. The priest said lie thought the fact that M. Clemonceau had his sister with him showed that although he had not retracted his radical views his sentiments were not opposed to religion. His anti-clericalism was overlooked in the contemplation of a great Frenchman, and his immense services excused many things. M. Paul Boncour called bearing a tiny satchel of earth taken from the grave of Joan of Arc for burial in M. Glemenceau’s grave.

His Last Work. The “ Tiger ” had finished his book replying to his critics only last Thursday. He laid down his pen in relief. Five hours later he was seized with the abdominal pains which began his last illness. He commenced his book full of anger, but as be progressed he became calmer and toned down certain passages lie bad written, saying that although he differed from his critics he had no enmity for them, but only wished to make his own position clear. It will be a remarkable book written as it was when M. Glcrnenccau was a great age and on flic verge of the grave. . Tremendous crowds visited M. Ciclncnceau’s house in the Rue I'lanklin, to Lender silent homage to the statesman who above all others personified the country's unconquerable spirit. Doctors came and went, but every time shook their heads mournfully, saying: “It is hopeless, lie cannot live." The old "Tiger" seldom spoke, he endured his intense pain without complaint, though his suppressed groans were occasionally heard. A State of Coma. One of the doctors asked it' their patient felt any pain. He replied: “\CB, I feel it dreadfully.’ A drug was administered to relieve his suffering, and he sank into a state of coma prior to his death. Great French personages and Hie. representatives of many foreign States called at the house and left cards. Another caller was Colonel Allred Dreyfus, who when he was almost friendless during the celebrated case in which he was the central figure found M. Glemencoau suddenly championing his innocence.

the “ TIGER’S ” CAREER. FORMERLY A RADICAL LEADER“WAR TO THE DEATH." Like many leaders of modern times Georges Clemenceau began his career as an ardent radical and ended it as a man of power, ready to enforce his will by all possible means- As a student in the days of the. Second Empire, he wrote so vigorously against Napoleon 111 that he was imprisoned for two months. During the greater part of his lire he was a journalist, with occasional incursions into politics. He never sought office, and, though lie succeeded in overthrowing several ministries, he had only one short term in the position ol premier until the exigencies of war claimed him at the age of 7-j. until a few years before the war he had been prominent mostly as a fighter for the “under dog.” He had valiantly supported Zola in the campaign on behalf of Dreyfus. A few years before the war he began a vigorous campaign for preparation for war with German!. After tlie war began he was often in conflict with the censor for his outspoken criticism of the alleged incompetence of the management of the war on France s side- However, tlie “ Tiger’s P er " slstence won the day. In 1917, when war-weariness was becoming very ap parent, he became Premier and War Minister and inspired the French peopio with a new enthusiasm for war to the death. Victory came in 1918, and at the peace conference Clemenceau fought as vigorously as ever for France. However, a man of his temperament was not popular in peace times, and he soon lost office* Retiring at the age of fourscore years, he set himself to writing books on philosophy a subject that had always attracted him. His beliefs were definitely Rationalist.