FRANCE MOURNS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 91, 15 October 1934, Page 9

FRANCE MOURNS

FUNERAL OF M. BARTHOU

TRIBUTE BY M. DOUMERGUE

PARIS, October 13. Nation-wide mourning marked the funeral of M. Barthou. Vast, reverent crowds thronged, tho Esplanade dos Ijivalides when the coffin, covered with tho Tricolour, was borne ou n gun carriage, which is an honour hitherlo accorded only to presidents among civilians, from tho Foreign Office, whore it hail lain in slate.

'J'lii? cortege, which was a niilu long, included M. Lobrun, (lie. President, anil members nt Cabinet, with 'M. >S:iri;mt. resigned ;is JNliniglei- fjj£ tho Interior.

following the assassination, walking separately. There were representatives of fifty nations in colourful diplomatic uniforms, deputies, scarlet-robed judge.-, green and gold uniformed academicians, and military, naval, and air force chiefs. A parly of Rumanian peasants in national dross carried Rumanian earth which was eventually sprinkled on tho grave.

"When the procession reached a space before the statue of Gallieni the coffin was placed under a catafalque before which burned a. flame of renu'inbraiH-e, from which source- incense was ascendi!!{.'.

>f. DoumerguCj Premier, mounted the bl'.iek and silver dais and delivered an eloquent ovation. lie- emphasised thai Barthou's every act was dominated by passionate love for his country, lie recalled M. Barthou's many services to France, including his forcing the Chamber to accept three years' military service hi 1013 which was a factor in saving Ihe country in war time, lie also paid a tribute to M. Barthou's work for peace, on which he was engaged when killed beside a wise and chivalrous friend who was visiting Trance for tho same purpose^ M. Doumerguc paid a tribute to King Alexander in similar terms.

The one-armed General Gouraud, Governor of Paris, limping from his war wounds, led the march past. The service was held in the Chapel dcs Invalides beneath tattered regimental colours. From that place the coffin was conveyed to Per© la Chaise, where it was buried in the same grave as M. Barthou's wifo and eighteen-year-old son, who was killed in Avar time in Alsace.