The Washington times., 1935-11-26
FEARS COUP
IN FRANCE
BY VETS
Ministers Vote Drastic
Action As a Guard
Against Rioting

PARIS, Nov. 26 Q.N.S0.-Act.
ing on widely-circulated reports
that French Fascists would at
tempt to seize the government by
force when the chamber Of depu-
ties meets again this Thursday,
the ministerial council at crucial
session today empowered the min
iSter of the interior to take draS-
tic precautionary measures.
Although the meeting was called
oStensibly primarily to debate
the acute financial crisis facing
the country, International News
Service learned the mi1isterS de-
voted nearly the entire session 20
discussion Of the possibility Of
J6king and street figh tt n g
Throughout France.
The session developed into q
bitter battle along party lines, cul-
minating in the charge Of GER
tain factions that the Croix De
Feu (CroSs of Fire, an organiza-
ton of FaSciStS under Col. Fran
co.'s De La ROGUE, popular World
War veteran was planning a
sensational coup d'etat on Thurs
day.
Majority Favor Action
The charge of a few hours previ-
ously had been aired in detail in
the newspaper rOeuvre Populaire.
The paper said that although
Colonel De La ROGUE had eau
toned his followers to temper
their activities, lit is doubtful if he
will be able to curb his men,"
The secretly planned coup. said
the paper, is the result of the will
of the majority, who are in
favor Of immediate and violent
action"
Most political leaders agreed
that, regardless of whether the
Fascist coup is staged Thursday,
Premier Pierre Laval himself is
in grave danger Of being thrown
out of office in parliamentary
manner. 1t is the general opinion
that even if Laval survives the
present crisis, his days in office
are numbered.
Minister of the Interior Joseph
Paganon following today's meet
ing told international News Serv-
ice:
II am giving the projects the
right to ban any public or private
meeting they, consider dangerous. "
Violence Called For
This placed great authority
upon local law forces, which al
ready were strengthened by the
recent public order DEGREES by the
government to deal largely with
the Fasists and other groups Of
the extreme right.
The DEGREES curb sharply the
sale and possession of firearms,
and regulate strictly all public
meetings.
The planned Fascist coup as
outlined by the Loeuvre Popu'
laire today calls for violent ac'
ton.
1.-The plan of attack" said the
paper, includes an assault upon
the chamber Of deputies, the
central telephone and telegraph
offices, and the various minis
tries.
During the first hours of the
coup a certain number OF exc
cutionS is foreseen."
Those marked for death, &C
cording to the paper. "are nearly
all former radical ministers"
Claim Membership of 100000
The paper declared Colonel de
Ia ROGUE had ordered mobiliza-
tion of all fiery cross members OF
the Paris region and many provin-
cial leaders, stating:
All active forces of our party
must consider themselves as mob
ilized to effectively intervene
against any attempt at endanger'
ing democratic liberties"
The Croix de Feu, founded in
1927, originally was an eX-service
mems organization composed only
of front line men decorated for
bravery. Today the organization
includes affiliated organizations
of sons and other relatives and
| sympathizers.