1939-08-26 — Page 5

THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 26, 1939.

PARIS EDITOR ACQUITTED IN TEST CASE

M. Lucien Sampaix, home political legitimate anxiety. I will go on pro- editor of the Communist newspaper testing with all my might against all "Humanite," was acquitted in Paris attempts to hush up the scandal." after standing trial on a charge of contravening the Press laws by divulg- ing information about the investiga- tions into German propaganda funds in France.

The trial aroused intense interest in France as, a test case in which the issue was the freedom of the Press. M. Sampaix said that he had received during the past week hundreds of thousands of letters from all over the country, He was

defended by the famous Paris lawyer, Maitre Moro- Giafferi.

At the trial, which was public, M. Sampaix repeated several questions which he made, in the "Humanite."

"HITLER'S INTRIGUES"

"The greatest pressure," he said, "is being exercised on M. Daladier, the Prime Minister, for the whole affair to be hushed up. The secret service of Germany has built up a great net- work in our country.

"France is regarded as the mortal enemy who must be shot down. Before Hitler sends out his armies he wants to demoralise public opinion in France. I denounced Hiller's intrigues."

M. Sampaix, reading out a long manuscript in a monotonous voice, as- serted that men who previously did not have £5 in their pockets had sud- denly become newspaper proprietors. "Whence did they receive money?" he

asked.

He read out an extract from the Nationalist review, "Choc," which asserted that Herr Himmler, German Chief of Police, had organised a special espionage service of pretty wo- men. The editor of "Choc," he said, had not been asked for an explanation. "One of the German agents," M. Sampaix stated in evidence, "is Eliza- beth Buetner, who was expelled from Britain. I asked questions in the "Humanite' about her.

"WIFE OF A MINISTER”

"I asked whether or not M. Darquier de Pellepoix [the Nationalist Muni- cipal Councillor who has been sen- tenced to three months' imprisonment for anti-Semitic propaganda] had any~ thing to do with her.

"I asked whether or not she had

anything to do with M. Fernand de Brinon, the Vice-President of the Comite France-Allemagne, and one- time serni-official envoy to Berlin.

"I asked whether or not she had anything to do with Gen, Duseigneur

|

"POLITICAL MANOEUVRE"

M. Lebegue, representing the Public Prosecutor, asked the court to apply the law leniently. He asserted that the The question at issue was the suppres- liberty of the Press was not at stake. sion of "untrue and fantastic reports."

Maitre Moro-Giafferi contended that the judicial' authorities were carrying out a political manoeuvre. M. Sam- paix, he added, had been charged with publishing statements which, had al- ready appeared in other newspapers.

The judge, M. Ferrier, after a long deliberation, acquitted M. Sampaix. He said that, a fact must be divulged for an offence to be established under the law forbidding, the Press to give details about espionage and national defence..

M. Sampaix, however, had not writ-. ten of any facts which were not pre- viously known.

The verdict, was greeted with loud applause, which angered, the judge. "We are here to mete our justice," he said. "We want neither blame nor ap- probation."

OFFICE RAIDED

On the instructions of M. Combeau, the examining magistrate dealing with the propaganda affair, police searched the premises of the review, "Porc- Epic"-"The Porcupine"-which cently published a virulent anti- Semitic articlę signed by M. Clementi, a Parisian journalist, An order for his arrest has been issued.

re-

A shorthand writer at the Senate, M. Jean Amourelle, who is alleged to have sold copies of the proceedings of the Army Committee.to a German agent, has been arrested..

An anti-French, monthly review published in Alsace, the "Strassburger Monatshefte," has been seized by the French, police, The publisher, Dr. Spiesser, fled to Germany, some weeks ago when the pro-German associa- tion, known as the "Erwin von Stein- bach Bund,' was dissolved by the authorities.

*

the Cagoulards, whose arms, depots Another step towards the trial of

were discovered nearly two years ago, was taken when the court of indlet- ment, accepted the findings of the ex- amining magistrate and turned the 71 accused over, to the assize, courts. It is

thought that their trial will take place at the end of the year.

COLONY

[charged following the Cagoulard con- APPEAL FOR

spiracy), with M. Doriot and M. Bucard [Fascist leaders], and with M. Chiappe [former Police Prefect of Paris].

"I also asked whether the wife of a Minister did not pass on all the in- formation which she received tro.n hai husband's department. We have re- ceived no reply."

RECRUITS

Defence Work, such as Special Con- Men are required for Second Line

stable and Guard Duty, Auxiliary, and Special Fire Brigades, clerical work, etc.

M. Sampaix quoted a sentence in British subjects of the age of 41 "Choc," which stated that when M. upwards are invited to offer them- Bonnet, the Foreign Minister, learned selves to the Compulsory Service Tri- of the arrests after the German propa-bunal for enrolment in the General ganda scandal he was very much dis- Groups of the Hong Kong: Defence turbed. "As a journalist," said M. Reserve which will be employed on Sampaix, “I noted all these facts with essential services."

Applicants will be medically exam- ined and it passed as will be as- signed to duty, after enrolment, at-

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