New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-21
EXCITED OVER DREYFUS.
ANOTHER BITTER DEBATE IN THE
FRENCH CHAMBER.
Ex-PREMIER MELINE DENIES THAT HE
WAS AWARE OF THE HENRY FOR
CERES, AND AssAILS
REVISION.

Paris. Jan. 20-The Chamber Of Deputies to-
day. after defeating by a vote Of $50 to $50 a
resolution proposed by NJ. DeJoanto, Socialist TO
demolish the chapel erected in expiation Of the
execution Of Louis XVI. plunged into another
Dreyfus debate
NJ. Breton, Socialist. interpellated the Govern
ment on the subject Of the package Of dplo-
matte papers among the documents in the Drey-
rus case and asserted that the former Minister
Rambaud, speaking at the Agricultural Show.
declared that the members Of the Meline Cabinet
were aware of the forgery OF the late Lieu
tenant-Colonel Henry. The statement caused
great excitement among the Deputies, In the
midst Of which NJ. Meline. who was Premier IN
the Cabinet in which NJ. Rambaud was Minister
OF Public Instruction, and DR.. Barthou who
was Minister OF the Interior In the same Cab
met rose and formally characterized the state
ment false. NJ. Meline added that the day he
was first aware Of the Henry forgery was when
NJ Cavaignac. the former Minister Of War. an
nounced its discovery In the Chamber OF Depu-
ties. The speaker further declared that a re-
vision OF the trial was unnecessary and that he
had nothing to retract.
The Minister OF Foreign Affairs, NJ Delcasse.
said the so-called ultra-secret dossier which had
been communicated to the Court of Cessation
contained no letter from Dreyfus to foreign
sovereign He added that there never had been
such letter, to the knowledge OF the agents
who had been in the service Of the Ministry dur
ing the last decade. AS to the suggestion that
II contained letters from a foreign sovereign to
Dreyfus the Minister said he did not believe
that any authenticity could be credited 10 such
documents (Applause.)
Continuing. the Minister Of Foreign Affairs
said that he. as we'll as every one connected with
the Foreign Office. was entirely unaware that
any such documents had been manufactured, as
alleged. But, even If such were the case. the
forger would never attempt to offer them at the
French Foreign Office for however naive the
diplomatists might be supposed to be, they
would never be simple enough to accept or place
value upon such merchandise. (Applause)
NJ. Meline formally reiterated that neither he
nor any member of his Cabinet was aware Of
the forgery Of the late Lieutenant Colonel
Henry and he congratulated himself that he
was not responsible for the revision. as he
added. there was not new fact to warrant it.
The speaker further remarked that il there
was an innocent man condemned in the case II
should be proclaimed to the world: but the
country only saw in the Dreyfus affair a sys-
tematc and perfdious campaign against the
army. (ApplauSe from the CentreJ
The partisans Of revision" the former Premier
said later, should cease to join hands with the
enemies Of the army"
This remark caused a violent uproar among
the members OF the L ,ft. NJ. Meline added:
The campaign against the army is capable Of
being incontestably proved"
Renewed uproar and applause followed this
assertion.
Later. the order Of the day. pure and simple.
was accepted by the Government and was adopt
ed by vote Of 4S0 to 81.
M. Breton and NJ. Millevoye. Nationalist Re-
publican, managing editor Of the "Patrie," sent
seconds to each other owing to insults ex-
changed during the sitting. but the seconds de-
cded that there was no ground for duel.
According to the "Soir," the Court OF Cassa-
tion intends to conclude the inquiry by con-
fronting Captain Lebrun- Renault. who was in
charge Of Dreyfus at the time Of his degrada
ton, with Dreyfus himself. The necessity for
this is advanced pretext to justify the re-
turn OF Dreyfus to Paris.
The Court also proposes, according to the
"Soir," to have the bordereau dictated success
svely to Dreyfus and Esterhazy, whose hand
writing will then be compared with the original