The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-24
Trial of Ex-Premier for
Treason to BE Most SenSa-
tiOnal in France.
POLITICS MAY SAVE HIM
New Charges Of Perfidy Made
Against Statesman Visitor
to the Vatican.
SPECIAL caJle Despotch 10 The svs.

fopyrt1hf. 1871, az r'1hfs veserrtd
PARIS. Dec. 23--The decision OF the
Chamber OF Deputies that former Pre-
'nier Caillaux must be prosecuted is the
beginning Of what promises to be one
Of the mos, sensationa, trials In the his
tory of France There IL no doubt that
politics will be played 70 the limit in an
attempt to divert the prosecution from
tie charges Of giving intelligence to the
enemy. for which the penalty is death.
TO the less serious accusation of engag.
ing in political iutrigues OF character
tending to omharrass the Government
The next step will be 10 refer the
charges to an investigating Judge. who
exercising functions corresponding to
those Of a grand jury. will decide " the
evidence is sufficient to Justify proceed
ings either before military tribunal or
before the Chamber itsei: sitting Us a
high court.
Among the documents attached to
the report Of tho committee on which
the dec. sion TO prosecute was reached
VAS n report by- Admiral de Saint Pair,
Frehch Naval A;ta"he al Rome AZ the
time Caillauy was carrying on confer
encca in ita!:.
some discriminating Evidence.
az meeting IN Rome December -.
1915, between Caillaux and Slgno- Mar
tint. formerly Italian Minister OF Col
ouies The document says in part:
"CaillauN said tho BRAND Ministry
had reached its end. Hc did not expect
he would nc called to form Ministry
Immediately: thar n Cl"merccau- Bar
thou Ministry would succeed, but that
France could 70. contInu" her military
Efforts longer than the end OF spring.
-. that moment. CailiauA said. he
would iake power and siH'I Il peace
treaty. the terms of which would sur
prise the world Wy the advantages Ger
many would accord to Italy and France.
All the price Of this peace would be
paid hy Russia and tie Balkans.
Germany desired road 10 Basdad
which she would conquer. S1e would
then construct "a great Bulgaria and
great Turkey in Europe. Frances field
os development would be In Africa. Ser
hia and Rumania deserved the fate that
Ind overtaken their.
After peace was signed France
vor.d conclude ar alliance with Cor
many. Italy and Spain agains; l:rc.ard
md russia. who were her real enemies
Moved In Vatican Circles.
TIE Admiral says further that Ca!'-
AIN taiked With many politicians In
Vatican circles and with number Of
;r,'at.s of parins. tendencies, including
Msrs Misc'atelli, MiEune and paiticu-
.ary racc.li. lie did not Sc" the Pope
or cardinal Gasparvl, bu' Mmc. Cail.auH
Nal sovera, interviews with TIE latter,
Cail.auX urged these mon. the Ad-
lriral say. to make an cler- -etir cam
paign for peace, declaring that /. ITALY
made a separate peace France would
ne forced TO retire from the war. He
promised the restoration OF diplomatic
relations when II. returned to power,
Regarding Cdiliaux's conferences with
Payell. a despatch from Rome says an
Italian Deputy declared in the Chamber
that Nine. Cai!aux mad an interview
at The house -. Erresto Pacell! with
Won Gerlach. the Austrian pre!ate who
vas condemned to life imprisonment "a