The record-union., 1898-11-29
Deputies Insist Upon the Postpone
ment Of Picquart's Trial
UatII the Decision In the Revision Of the
Dreyfus Case Is Made Known.
Charged That the Only Proof of
Dreyfus' Guilt Consisted in the
Bordereau, and That No Cabinet
Minister OF Even the Political
Council Of Ministers Heard Any
Mention Of the Confessions the
Imprisoned Captain is Alleged
to Have Made.

Imprisoned Captain is Alleged
| to Have Made.
PARIS, Nov. 2S-The Chamber Of
Deputies was crowded to-day, much in
terest being taken in the announced in
tention of some Of the Deputies to in
terpellate the Government on the Pic
quart case.
M. Paul Deschanel, Republican, an
nounced that he had received request
to interpellate the Government regard
ing the Picquart proceedings, and the
Premier, M. Dupay, proposed an i'm
mediate discussion of the matter.
M. Fourniere, Socialist, asked for an
adjournment for am hour and a half in
order that the Republican Deputies
might be able to consult with their col
| leagues in the Senate regarding the
adoption of a common policy.
The chamber rejected the motion Of
adjournment by vote of 252 to pa.
| Radical Deputy. M. Bos, opened the
| discussion. He said that while there
has been some honesty in the Dreyfus
prosecution, there had been nothing but
dishonesty in the Picquart affair. These
remarks caused an uproar.
| Continuing, M. Bos detailed the his
tory of the Picquart persecution, re-
calling Colonel Picquart's exile to the
| United States, and asked the Minister
of War M. de Freycinet, why he had
| permitted court-martial to be sum-
moned for December 1st.
The Deputy also accused General
Zurlinden, the Military Governor of
Paris, who, he said, had promised
revision Of the case, of having broken
his word. This caused another uproar.
| M. Bos concluded by insisting that
the Government ought to postpone the
trial of Picquart by court-martial until
the decision of the court of cessation
in the revision of the Dreyfus trial is
made known.
This brought forth lively applause
from the majority of the Deputies.
NJ Millerand, Radical Socialist, spoke
in a similar strain. He said it was
absolutely necessary to postpone the
Picquart court martial, in order to
avoid the scandalous contradictions
which otherwise were likely to arise
between the verdicts of the court-mar-
tial and of the court of cessation.
stage of the proceedings was frequent
ly obliged to intervene, in order to quiet
the uproar on all sides.
M. Poincare, Republican, made an i'm
passioned speech, in the course of which
he said it was not necessary to con-
found the army with a few imprudent
men. While the members Of the court
martial were above suspicion, the pros
ecution of Picquart savored of re-
prisal (Applause.) Colonel Picquart's
secret imprisonment M. Poincare fur
ther asserted, was beyond all precedent,
and there were guilty persons, he
claimed, who were enjoying scandalous
immunity. (Applause)
There are other forgers besides Pts
quart who ought to be prosecuted ex-
claimed the Deputy. These injustices
will end by exasperating the nation"
M Poincare, who was Minister of
Public Instruction in 1S93-95, created
sensation by adding, I'VE were at
tackled for the Dreyfus prosecution in
1894, but I learned of the Dreyfus af-
fair through the newspapers
Tremendous applause and uproar fol-
lowed this assertion.
M Barthou, who was Minister of
Public Works in 1894, here inter
jected: II am ready to indorse the
words of M. Poincare, which are true
This called forth more applause and
exclamations Of 1T is absurd" 1T is
inconceivable,''
Thereupon M. Poincare added: "The
only proof of Dreyfus' guilt in 1894 con-
sisted of the bordereau. No Cabinet
Minister or even the political council of
Ministers heard any mention Of the
confessions Dreyfus is alleged to have
made to Captain LeBrun- Renault.' =
(Applause.)
NJ Cavaignac, the former Minister Of
War, said: General Mercier secured
those confessions"
General Mercier was Minister of War
at the time of the Dreyfus trial.
NJ Poincare continued: Captain
Renault, when he was examined by the
political council, did not mention the
Dreyfus confession"
This statement caused applause to
break forth from all parts of the house,
during which M. Cayaignac tried to
speak, but was howled down, although
one Deputy shouted: Let us hear the
hero of the forgery"
Il
"Silence has weighed heavily upon me,
and I am now happy to have. had the
opportunity to tell what I know of the
case" (Renewed applause.)
NJ Cavaignac reasserted that Cap
tain Lebrun- Regault's evidence was
given to General Mercier. His report
exists he exclaimed amid uproar
and cries of Date, date
But perhaps Captain Lebraun-Re-
gault has since retracted his admis-
sions.
Shouts of surprise followed this sug-
gestion.
M. de Freycinet said: THE Govern
ment, on assuming office, found the
proceedings pending We have only
one authority, and that is to ascertain
the truth We do not object to fur
nishing the Court of Cessation with all
evidence available. excepting the evi-
dence involving the national defense.
Both the civil and the military courts
are fully equipped to deal with the re-
spective cases, and, as all desire to
arrive at the truth, it will be reached.