The record-union., 1899-08-20

tionS of great Importance were in pro-
gress, and an extraordinary expendl-
ture had been arranged beforehand.
This decrease in the funds" contfn-
ued Picquart, did not prevent me from
pursuing the extremely interesting
| questions upon which 1 was engaged.
I made a memorandum in which |
asked for supplementary grant, and
100000 francs were given me. When
the 100000 francs were received Gen
eral Billot made another redistribution.
In no case no extraordinary expendl-
lures were made in connection with the
Esterhazy inquiry. There could not be
an inquiry costing less.
I'm a note sent to the Minister OF
Justice in 1896, it was set forth that
employed as official agents the private
detectives of the Inquiry Bureau. 1
only employed single official agent.
What led to the belief that l employed
private agencies was the fact that this
agent styled himself a business agent
on one of his cards, and this was ln-
cluded in the dossier of the Esterhazy
affair"
When Picquart had finished speak
ing, General Billot jumped up ana
asked leave to speak.
"Picquart,, the General called sharp
ly to the officer, who had just left the
stand, will you come back?''
Certainly" replied Picquart.
General Billot then said: II am very
pleased that Colonel Picquart has
raised the question of the secret funds,
which 1 had already brought before the
Court of Cessation. The secret funds
are secret funds, and 1 should, if I re-
spected the purpose for which they
are assigned, say nothing about them.
[ will endeayor to say nothing which
should remain secret. The secret funds
are placed at the disposal of the Min
lister of War for the service of the
State. and the Minister has only to ac-
count for them. The President controls
and gives his discharges for the secret
fund Colonel Picquart received from
the chief of the general staff the funds
assigned to his department. He couid
dispose of them as he liked, but this
the Minister decides, and with regard
to the requirement of the service this
distribution was with the approval OF
the President the secret funds at his
disposal I distributed these funds as
they have been distributed for thirty
years. before my advent to power by
all the Ministers of War. The sum OF
81. 600 francs monthly was allowed the
chief of the general staff of the Intelli-
gence Department. When the credit
of 100000 francs was asked for it was
for the service of the general staff, and
not for the Intelligence Department as
Colonel Picquart believes. 1t was asked
for on the part of General de Bols-
deffre (then chief of the general stafD,
and not the report of Colonel Picquart,
for the general service of the secret
war funds.
'These funds were expended as Col
onel Picquart stated, 5000 francs by
myself, and, as General Roget SAID,
&C. 900 francs in 1896 and 10000 francs
in 1897 by General Gonse. The re-
mainder was placed at the disposal o.
nv successor, M de Freycinet, VINO
had this sum liquidated by President
Loubet I will not say another word
but T must deal with the perfidious in-
sinuation made to the Court OF casa
ton. which is calculated to deal blow
to the delicacy, fidelity and honor OF
the Minister of War"
This statement caused applause IN
the rear of the court, but Colonei
Jouaust cut demonstrations short ps'
announcing adjournment until Monday.
Curiosity is one of the forms OF femi-
-,