The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-08-19
go to the president Of the republic"
Regarding Mercier's declarations

go to the president of the republic"
Regarding Mercier's declarations
Saturday Casimir-perier said:
aMercier had no right whatever to
intervene in a diplomatic conyersa-
ton. l would have prevented such
ferred with the Germany minister.
declare the impression ! derived from
that conversation was II of COM
plete calm; otherwise the incident
would not have been closed by the
framing Of u note. We had no tele-
gram from Berlin that evening. IT
was in regard to the note the minister
referred to Berlin. If there had been
any news in regard to the matter on
the evening of the 9th we should not
have waited till the Sth to publish the
note. There was no dispatch adj
dressed to a friendly power relative
to the incident. The incident has been
magnifed. BESIDES, in the event OF
diplomatic negotiations, the president
would have communicated With the
minister of foreign affairs.
Casimir-perier next protested
against the assertions by MERCER in
regard to the role adopted by the chief
| OF state in this affair, ~wfereupon the
general intcrjected that had he spoken
of the attitude assumed by Casimir-
Perier because he had sworn to tel
the whole truth.
Demange asked Casirmir-Pericr if
on the 9th an understanding had been
reached between France and Germany
on the subject Of Dreyfus.
No Issue With Germany.
Casimir-Pcrier replied hat before
his interview with the minister on the
9th the question of Dreyfus never had
been raised between them and Ger
many.
Demange asked MERCER why he had
not included in the dossier of 1894 the
doubtful translation of the telegram
of agent 81 to his government, under
date of November 2.
Mercier said that not Il Of the
TRANSACTIONS Had been communicated
to the judges because there still ex-
listed doubts in his mind.
Demangc remarked the text was
communicated to Sandherr as official;
therefore doubt was impossible. Coun-
sci asked MERCER why explanations OF
the secret dossier We're not included in
the dossier relating to revision.
The general replied that he consid-
cred these explanations given for his
personal use; hat was why he de-
stroyed the document.
Demange expressed establishment
and asked Nercier if he did not have
reasons fer supressing the document.
Witness r~epudiated the suggestion.
General Billot's Testimony.
General Billot former minister OF
war, testified that early in his admin
senate, asked him whether he ought
He, the witness. recommended pru-
witness he believed Dreyfus innocent.
innocence.
Rillot spoke of Colonel Picquart,
saying he holds him in the highest es-
ton about the neighboring army and
it's artillery, which showed the Ieccs-
sity of reforming the French artillery
as commenced by that great initiator.
Mercier.'' Billot protested against the
| sAlChollola tIlAG W ~" -
quart where he would never return. Ife
said that devotion to country and army
and anxiety respecting the secrets OF
national defense often entailed excep-
tional measures. like resignation, go.
ing to distant points whence it was
possible to return with superior rank;
where heroism certainly wiped out ev.
erything except treason. ~(Sensation.)
Demange invited Billot to explain
the statements of Barthou and Poin.
care, former ministers, that Billot was
once so doubtful of Drcyfus' guilt he
was unable to sleep for several nights.
Billot acknowledged the statement
was rue. Picquart's revelations pro.
duccd doubts in his mind, but his con
~viction Of Dreyfus' guilt remained un-
changed.
There was a great sensation when
Demange mentioned the opinion ex-
pressed by Barthou that Billot had
been forewarned in regard to Colonel
Hcnry's forgery.
Billot acknowledged that the forgery
was among the factors arousing his
doubts. He said he was greatly sur.
prised and affected by it..
Still Relieves Drcyfus entity.
Cavaignac, former minister of war,
testified he was the first cabinet min
lister to assume responsibility in
the case of Dreyfus. He fol-
lowed the inquiry of the
court of cessation, and still desired to
associate himself with the responsible
ity of those who, in 1894, protected the
country and army against treason.
(Sensation.) Among the principal
points upon which he based his conyic-
ton was the confession OF Lebrun-
Rennult. in support of which he
quoted from an alleged letter Of Drey-
fus, but which in reality was purt Of
General Comes report to the minister
of war on Colonel Du Patty de CLAIMS
report of the alleged confession.
Cavaignac admitted the %fallibiiity of
human testimony, and said it should
be taken into account in condemning
n fellowman, but he asserted he was
convinced of the guilt of Dreyfus be-
cause his were so entirely in
agreement in their testimony.
Cavaignac said he found additional
proofs Of Dreyfus' guiltsin the techni-
cal character of the bordereau. The
bordereau alone established the fact
thatthe treason emanated from the bu-
reau Of the general staff, from an Of
fieer able to secure all information do
sired, as Dreyfus was, in spite of his
denials. Dreyfus had been everywhere
necessary to proclre the information
in question. 1t was established, he de:
clared, that Drsyfus copied plans Of
tile proposed concentration Of the
army. Witnesses, he claimed, would
support this assertion.
counts his efforts to send through the
mails to prominent officials In tho Philip.