FRANCE.

Southland Times, Issue 1596, 25 June 1872, Page 3

FRANCE.

The Commissionon Capitulation blames General TJhrich for the surrender of Strasbourg, and especially censures him for screening himself and his officers from the conditions imposed on enlisted men. In the National Assembly on the 21st May, M. Bouher spoke for nearly three hours in proposing a motion to interrogate the Government as to its intentions regarding the frauds on the war contracts. M. Eouher disclaimed any intention of provoking controversies, and defended General Palikao from the charges brought against his administration of affairs as Minister, urging that the members of the Government collectively should be held responsible for their acts. M. Audiffret Pasquier replied to M. Kouher, and vindicated his own exposures of corruption under the Empire. He denounced Napoleon, and called on the Empire in the language of Augustus to restore to France her religion, her provinces, her glory. The members of the Assembly, and the spectators in the rooms and galleries, were greatly excited, and repeatedly interrupted the speaker with passionate outbursts of applause. M. Bouber replied in a two hours' speech which was listened to with impatience. The Prince and Princess of Wales are to arrive in Paris on the 24th of May. The Paris journals consider the debates in the Assembly on the 21st and 22nd May have inflicted a crushing blow to the hopes of the friends of the Empire. Henri Bochefort and other convicted Communists have sailed for New Caledonia.