The San Francisco call., 1899-08-15
l. ~ i \ \

Perier. General MERCER undertook to
shorten the term of service of $4,000 men
without consulting the chief OF state
thus lacking in the respect he owed to
NJ Casimir-Perie- next protested
against the assertion made by General
MERCER in regard to the role ADOPTED oy
the chief of state in this affair, WhereupGh
Tho general interiected that he had spok-
on of the attitude assumed by M. CaSi,
mir-Perier because he had sworn to tell
M NJ Demange asked General MERCER if
he had explained to the Cabinet now ne
reconciled the relations of cause anu Ell
feet and the patriotic emotion arouseu pE
the treason which the communication or
the secret documents to the court-martlal
indicated. ...,+ -
Saturday as his hypothesis of the sltua-
ton. o,.. r,i
if on the 9Th an understanding had been
reached between France and Germany on
the subject of Dreyfus.
NJ. Casinir-Perier replied that before
bis interview with the Minister on the
9Th the question of DreyfuS had never
been raised between him and Germany.
NJ Demange asked General Mercier why
he had net included in the dossier of 1894
the doubtful. translation of the telegram
of Agent ''B" to his Government under
the date of November 2.
In reply General MERCER said not one
of the translations of the telegram was
communicated to the Judges because
there
NJ Demange remarked that the text
was communicated to Sandherr as official,
and therefore, doubts were impossible
NJ Demange then asked that Nj. Paleo-
Ioeue of the Foreign Office be recalled
in order to state that only a single YER
sion of the telegram was given. as he un-
derstOod General Mercier'S uncertainty
was aroused by the receipt OF semi-ofh-
cial draft of the telegram.
At this point Major Carriere. the repre-
sentative of the Government, asked that
it be clearly shown that two versions of
the telegram were given, one official and
one semi-official.
ing the official text on November Colonel
Sandherr emphasized its official character.
Counsel next asked General Mercier why
the explanations Of the secret dossier
were not included in the dossier relating
The general replied that he considered
sonal use, and that was why he de-
stroyed the document AT this NJ. De-
and asked General MERCER if he did not
have reasons for suppressing the docu-
ment
Dreyfus at this point rose from his seat
and asked leave TO explain in regard to
the assertion that he had traced on a card
General rslI' staff. The itinerary and journey
he stated were purely fictitious.
NJ Casimir-Perier then said he desired
to reiterate that he had never promised
anything to Dreyfus. adding that 1t was
with NJ. Waldeck-Rousseau alone that he
had spoken in regard to the condemned
man. Therefore M. Casimir-Perier reiter-
ated his protests a the letters of Dreyfus
referring to negotiations.
This caused NJ. Demange to explain how
Dreyfus came to say that NJ. Casimir-Per-
Ter had promised him public trial. After
Demange. had asked NJ. WaldeGk-Rous-
seau to intervene with NJ. Casmir-Perier,
then President of France, to obtain pub
licity. NJ. Waldeck Rousseau reported that
the President appeared favorable to the
suggestion, and counsel therefore thought
he might communicate the fact to Drey-
fuS. NJ. Demange added that 1t must be
remembered that Dreyfus wrote the letter
four years after the occurrence. and his
recollection naturally lacked precision. NJ
Demange expressed regret at the fact
that the letter had been published and
apologized to NJ Casimir-Perier who
thanked Demange for his expression of
regret and explanation
General Billot. former Minister of War
was the next witness. He was in uniform
sat with crossed legs and gave his evil
dence in a conversational manner. He said
he would be II years old Tomorrow Like
everybody else, he added, he had some
knowledge of the Dreyfus affair before
taking the war portfolio. While feeling
deeply on the subject he remained aloof
from the matter until he returned to the
Cabinet. In the early days of his admin
istration, the witness continued NJ
Scheurer-K esther. a former vice precide ent
of the Senate. asked him whether he ought
not TO investigate the Dreyfus affair M
Go eG he