1956-03-29 — Page 4

THE CHINA - MAIL, THURSDAY, MARCH 29)

1956,

FRANCE UNLIKELY TO GIVE UP "THE WIDOW"

E

By Stephen Coulter

MILE BUISSON, ex- death penalty

Pubic Enemy No. 1 Why, indeed,

Jooked of France,, puffed a hanc?

cigarette in the cold

03

and our own? high law officers. They study have the French every scrap of evidence. They

the British nak the Minister on some of

of Justice's little short of opinion, and what the governor of the prison where the con- thinks demned man in lodged about it as well as the view of the judge who presided over the trial.

am not exist in praeciles; pretty well out any french police sergeant can beat up a "suspect" innocent the or not) and never hear a whis

Yet a to per of official repronels.

capital charge in France is likely to get away with his life two out of three times.

15 minutes before dawn in The fact is that French law Paris one day. He trod has been conceived with the idea carefully on the butt, sald of giving an accused man the chances to escape the maxine.

Habeus corpus may to the silent group of men waiting "Messieurs. I

walked ready" -- and into the courtyard of grim Prison de la Sante be guillotined.

A quiet shudder of horror always runs through Paris when a guillotining Is made known. The Ume it was a shade more acute. For since Britain's Hotse

voted of Commons

to abolish death penalty. Frenchmen have realised with some surprise that only two countries In Europe now still put murderers to death France and France Speln, Yet there is small likelihood of France

"The abolishing Widow" us they call the guillo Une. There has been no public outcry for it, no political cum- paign. A few papers have half- heartedly talked about it being "an anachronism."

One single member ut, the French Parilu- ment suggested

un end of the death penalty four years agu- and Purilement did not discuss the matter.

even

man on a

0

Crimes of passion, fot in- stance, have never yet led Frenchman or Frenchwoman to the guillotine. The French have often been appalled at the way such murderers have been con- demned in Britain. They regard love as capable of arousing such vloje moments of all-obliterat- Ing emotion that B mon or woman in its grip may kill, yet remain sane and possibly con- tinue thereafter as responsible A citizen ns 1 before.

obe Wis

Quite often such murderers in Franco are freed, found "not guilty" even when they confess an open court to having done the killing they are accused of Scores every year are sent to prison for relatively short terms.

take

After all this-It may

or years--they Gend months their report to the High Council of Magistrates. The Counell has 14 members-the Minister of Justice, six persons elected by the National Assembly, four magistrates chosen by their fellows and two members of the legal profession chosen by the President of the Republic who himself presides. The Council debates the case and Anally says whether It considers the condemned man should dje or not.

Sometimes A small detail which one of the authorities thinks the Jury did not pay enough attention to is sumelent to bring about reprieve, the Counell's opinion is divided, there is a vote. It has happened that seven vetes have been cast for execution and Geven against. If so, it means reprieve.

But even if the Council says he should go to the guillotine, the condemned man is not yet doomed, The President of the Republic is not bound to accept the Council's view. He retains Emile Buisson was the 46th

mony other

of the right to pardon (commute murderer to be uliotard In

murder cases-even sordid the sentence). In practice, the France since 1951. #tween

Killings for gain and parricide President does personally re- 1045 and 1950 (during the great

- French pubile prosecutors and view the whole case once more Liberation clean-up? no fewer

Junes Accord extenuating cir- to decide on pardon or not. then 1,405 executions were

cumstances” to the accused. The result of this careful carried out the greatest num-

115 automatically lightening system is that 300 the last ber known in France for more the sentence. 1 is sometimes 457 common Law murderers than a century. De Gaulle had

difficult to see what extenuation sentenced to death have escaped the terrible task of going per-

there an possibly be but the "The Widow." ronally through

of killer thousands

gets the benest

Of course, there are French executed Not all those

abolition Even when a French murderer people who urge the were guttiolined, since French

But in has been formally sentenced, his of the death penalty, men condemne

of saving his life re- chances

recent years the High Council of mala high. His counsel nearly Magistrates has been presented with a striking exemple against always lodges an appeal, fre-

Murderous of the law. the repeal quently when there is not

allacks agalust taxi- slightest ground for contesting armed

drivers suddenly soared alarm- trial. Most

to be youths, and the Counell jecled,

was lenient. At once, the attacks soured still higher. The Counell his became severe: three bandits remaining differences between ease is automatically sent for were executed. The attacks the way the French regard the review by commission of six stopped almost overnight,

CILITA

crimes ari squad.

scht

to

polities the firing

In all, in the last ten years. 140 murderers nave be executed for common law crimes

There has been Some molítica the evidence or conduct of the ingly. The culprits were found

tion of the French altitude, since only just before the war guillo- tinings in France were publie

appeals are

But if the condemned man

appeal, spectacles. But why the curious flatly refuses

I

Quality

and we timid, British njust, never take the risk of i within a mile of the frightfully clever Russions of

might steal off

little white tails

of going

GO Homa

PUBLIC MEETING TONIGHT

THOMAS WISEMAN

flies from Hollywood to see the former queen of

the screen, in Las Vegas

Las Vegas. LYING over the Novada desert a bizarre mirage looms up out of the night a skyscraping cutout of Betty Grable in a swim-suit. When I saw this I realised that I had reached Las Vegas.

But once you have landed you can see even stranger visions. If you pene- trate the cordon of alot machines in the lobby of the Riviera Hotel and still have enough money left for supper you Can see Orson Welles doing Shake- speare as a cabaret—declaiming to the accompaniment of clattering cutlery: "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.”

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hos

To be blunt, the Las Vegans

it

In

of

These were

•

AMERICA MAY JOIN BAGHDAD PACT

From

DONALD LUDLOW,

Washington.

Timon fiddle East WO important trends in

policy have emerged as the Eisenhower Government 'begins the defence of its Foreign Aid Programme.

(1) Amerien is thinking about joining the Baghdad Puct, the lynchpin of Western Defence in that area, "though there is no immediate intention of doing

80,"

(2) America will not be "stampeded" by Rusala's offers of arme, machinery and food to the under-developed nations.

Although

five-nation Baghdad Pact (Britaks Turk

the

Pakistan, Iraq and Persia). Is claimed here as an Inspiration of Mr John Foster Dulles and has always had American sup- port America has

d from refrained joining it. It fears that to sign would embarras her relations with other Moslem Stats- particularly Saudi-Arabia, where she has vast oll interests --who we hostile to the Poet.

That America should now bo even thinking about jolning is of great moment.

America's signature on the Pact would put much needed muscle into the "northern ter" of NATO defence,

So far, America has only rent observers to its meetings.

Ans

No 1 a person than Mr Dulles second in - command, Herbert Hoover, Junior, dicated that America was having eccond thoughts about whether to join the Pact.

Could this be a result of the dusting of General Glubb from Jordan, and the anti-Western ogitation HOW

going on in the Sheikdom of Bahrein?

Hale, Junior, and John B.

tha

special

the Inter

Director of national Co-operation Adminis tration, appeared before the House Foreign Affairs, Com- mittee to argue for the President's request for $4,900,000 in foreign aid for the next fiscal year (beginning on July. 1, 1950)-an increase of $2,200 million on paper and about half

aum In actualispending.

President also wants a "shock fund" of $100 million a year for ten years to combat the Soviet economic drive

Congress is hostile not only else. What Blackjack. 21 and to the amount of money re- Bingo-are, involve, or entall Iquired but also to the idea of have not the remotest idea, ex-auch long-term commitments. cept that I am sure they ental First came Hollister to soothe losing money.

and warn. "We have no inten The slot machines, also known tion," ho

"of competing aa one-armed bandits, ore for with Rustla offer by offer, for the tyros like myself. They are to do so would be to part of the furnishings at every independence and judgment. Yet abandon establishment, and at downtown we mt take into account the Las Vegas there is an entire now approach. with Soviet gaming house built in the shape of one of these monsters. Most the Mosiem Asiatic and African tyranny has adopted to court of my 12 dollars are in the in- testines of these dime-hungry

worlds." machines.

If you think that gambling is romantic and elegant you should como here. When you car gamble (or 24 hours a day and moreover It is perfectly legal to do 60, the whole business becomes unexciting.

If only it were prohibited it

One-vice town

Then came Hoover with blis hint about the Baghdad Pact, some further cautions and a reassurance.

All foreign ald: projects, he said, were under constant reap- praisal. Nobody could tell whether the U.S. was better off of worst off in relations to Its allies than it was some years

Ko because

of the shift in Soviet policy, since the death of Stalin.

I

Despite his disclaimers, Mr that is merely an illusion. are more inclined to lend Miss Welles is certainly giving a fact it weighed 40lb." Grable their eyes. But they do remarkable display of being Mr Welles and listen to Mr Welles.

Miss Grable able to do anything. During the will shortly be teaming up for might be more fun. Here, you see, Shakespeare day he writes now novel TV play. The combination

a curiosity, appeal. Like which may turn into a play or Miss Grable's legs, about, which, bearded ladics and sword film script. Then in the evening' she never thinks. swallowers.

and. Mr Gambling affects every aspect something he does a twice-nightly cabaret, Welles's

which genius,

he of ilfe here. If you wish to make most of the customers hardly in the course of which he reads denies, should be devastating. the acquaintance of a chorus ever come cross in normal lifë... minds, forecasts the next 44,000

But the State Department had The usual experience of the 'dollar question, makes

To a girl:

girl, you do not buy her a drink. come back to the 12 You buy her a pile of chips and

no information to show that visitors to this town could be foat in mid-air, and transforms dollars I lost.

Egypt was attempting to play summed up with the words, "I himself before the customers sustained largely at the slot then watch the croupier scoop

off the West against Russia for come, 1 may, I lost." My own into Shylock,

machines. I was not able to them away as all the

wrong aid to build the Aswan Dam. numbers come up. experience is that I came for two I was relieved when he told penetrate the mystle of craps. But the chorus girls, are Tut His impresalon was that the days: saw three floor shows; and me," cannot sing or dance." All I know is that involves too lavishly- lost 12 dollars,

with delay in negotiations were duo suppiled It is good to know that there is throwing dice and getting the chips. This is a one-vice town to her desire to reach agreement Life's a gamble • something

which

the many right combination of numbers, and chorus girls cannot compete with the. Sudan on the division talented Mr Welles actually can- You can lose more money” at with blackjack, though I think of the Nile waters before going Against the background of not do.

this than at almost anything they offer rather better odds, ahead. this gambling town Orson. is 'said to have Welles

to, report cuts an incongruous that Miss Betty Grable who has figure.

fawer talents than Mr Welles, is What was he doing there? drawing more cusiomers to her: I asked him this as we sat by show at El Rancho, a hotel built. the hotel swimming pool under to look like a ranch house, Mias the hot desert sun. The answer Grable has brought her famous to that question was quite legs out of semi-retirement simple. He was making 23,000 order to shimmy on to the ataga dollars a week.

Of which not a nickel has found its way back thto the slot. machines.

+

"My whole life is one big gamble," and Welles. "I do not need to have any artificial out- lets as well."

No genius

in

in black fishnet stockings and a rhinestone costume,

Good friends

DAVY CROCKETT MYTH

B

COSTS

DOLLARS

a

By CHRISTOPHER HALL Miss Grable l the blondo who was superseded by Marilyn'

London. ney creation-like Donald Duck ·But some ""pirate" manufac Monroe-Just as she has in her

▶RITAIN is paying dollars, or Pluto and that Disney has turers refuse to ride on the Davy time superseded. Allee Fayo

And Crockett "overed wagon for Davy Crockett-a commercial rights, in him. but she is not bitter about this.

"Marilyn

from American and I are good figure

this, has licensed producera In fact Crockett, was a real worried. Apart from the 25,000 dollars friends," she says, and adds: folkore who need not cost us Person and Disney has no more a week, Las Vegas is providing "But Märilyn has never made a

rights in him than in William :

Sald

one. Disney Metrisso: him with a new," experience. big box office picture, and I was a penny.

the Conqueror.

"Please don't spread it' sround Now, he pointed out, he knew tops at the box office for nine, Suddenly Britain's children In Disney's London office that you can make Crockett what it was like to work at a years. night club.

"Actually aald Miss Grable, have gone Crockett-orazy Now colossal publicity campaign 1 goods without a licence we'd Could it be conceit the desire "there is no comparison between you can equip an entire child's being planned and directed to have all sorts of people jumping 10, prove he can do anything, Marilyn and me, We are not wardrobe with Crockett clothes make every child in Britain In,"

which had brought him to even the suma shade of blorde from stiliebat and playsuit Crockett-conscious. Las Vegas (his Contessa" wife My approach has always been to, 8" Davy Crockett shirt and Paolo, their three-month-old, to to the wholesome American pyjamas. boby and English nures are also girl., in my own mind 'I've never with him)? A placid and bland dried to be exxy, I probably gAVO Welles assured me

aro modestly my lost less thought than that he was no genius; that he one else in the world, th had reached an age when he how I don't, belleve a gift who is ➡up to a shilling on every, R's go round the country. the games, those are just widow-or longer had the desire to prove sexy can be existing success in worth they soll and right now local toy stores are upped off the items how appearing in the anything N

pictures.

**Because she alltastes they are working on orders of weeks in advance. They go shops labelled "Davy Crockett, eski, expected. Las Vegas to be the women in her audiencepare £100,000 artimo,

into combined action with the dreadful," he said. "I expected Peoplen, hayeva, mede a joken

local cinemas. É SUR ME All of which atter to At to be "inister, drud rather about a Betty Cizable Magag but most of this maner " a DD

med kljukis mwful, bowhowing the baby, they were clwar, clona jozent Máy, reprneentatives told sneg in through a kitbling - Canavery, haje mu to 3 timer kepimo, London, ("gosu Brok in 'Amerlen" morning, But it's really; not (rat, got a man, You may have thought (a));uintetends to thet 1 km almost, that the costume

Thelied his genom day.

They would too, There is practically nothing that cannot be made into what the producers call a "Crockett line.

*Soap,

The: producery of those goods in makes the Davy Crockett-films As the film of Davy Crockett ments hats, figmars/

paying Walt Disney he This is how the plan works, hairbrushing,... musical instru- card

7 Crockett, goods, appear in the " "elnane, foyer, and lao dinema is adverilind” in the Jhopecia Beth

money Very big

Q