The French Senate on Saturday accepted the Amnesty Bill, but
added the important amendment proposed by M. Bozerian, that it should not extend to persons condemned for assassina- tion or incendiarism. This amendment was carried by 143 to 138. The Government is unable to accept the amendment, which they contend would exclude many persons only construc- tively guilty of the offences charged, and on Wednesday pro- posed to the Chamber as a compromise a new Bill of one clause, declaring that any persons concerned in the insur- rections of 1870-71, and who may be pardoned up to July 14th, shall be considered amnestied. The effect of this rather odd arrangement is that the Government takes the responsi- bility of pardoning whom it pleases, under its general power of pardon ; and the Legislature, including the Senate, will only restore the civil rights, which a pardon does not restore. The new Bill was accepted by the Chamber by a vote of 321 to 150, and will, it is expected, be received by the Senate as an honour- able compromise. The difference seems trifling, but it must be remembered that it is not so held in France, where "depriva- tion of civil rights" involves serious consequences.
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