2 FEBRUARY 1901, Page 3

M. Clemenoean's new paper, Le Bloc. has strengthened the bands

of the opponents of amnesty. In his opening number he quoted a statement attributed to Pere du Lac—Superior of the Paris Jesuits—that he had "never had anything to do with the Dreyfus case" with the comment that Pere du Lac, while lunching with M. Reinaoh, had talked of nothing else. M. Reinaoh now confirms M. Clemencean in a series of categorical statements published in the Figaro. He says that Pere du Lao, before the Rennes trial, proposed a meeting at the house of a third party, and in the course of a four hours' interview (1) solicited M. Reinach's interest with Colonel Picquart to indnee a witness to sign a retractation of an anterior piece of evidence; (2) sought to influence M. Reinaoh's opinion of General Boisdeffre, and mentioned that the General had recently said to him (Pere du Lac) in a private conversation, " Give me your benediction as to a man who awaits execution." M. Ctemencean's action may be prompted by anti-clerical bias, but the episode at least explains the diffionIty which Dreyfusards experience in accepting the policy of amnesty.