The French Ministry has had a severe rebuff from the
Bureau appointed to discuss the Press Law. The Reporter, M. Albert Grevy, denounces the State of Siege in a time of peace as con- Crary to the organic laws of France. and affirms that the Minis- terial project does not raise it, except in some Departments. Under the proposed Press Law, the correctional police is substituted for trial by jury, in regard to all Press offences during the progress of the elections. After they are over, a more regular law is to be substituted. The reporter describes the Bill, in language of great violence, as intended only to coerce the electors, and recommends the raising of the state of siege throughout France and the re- jection of the Press Bill. He affirms that the Press is always the "bugbear of weak Governments," and in an appendix shows that 34 newspapers have been suppressed under the state of siege and 75 suspended. It is understood that the Assembly will reject the Press Bill, and will raise the state of siege throughout France, except, possibly, in Paris, Lyons, and Marseilles.
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