It looks as if after all the Amnesty Bill would
not succeed in covering up the remains of the Dreyfus case. On Thursday a letter from Captain Dreyfus to the French Prime Minister was published in Paris which threatens to reopen the whole discussion. Captain Dreyfus in the letter in question says that he has been accused "by a certain section of the Press of having addressed in 1894 to the German Emperor an in- famous letter which, annotated by this Sovereign, was stolen from an Embassy and is formal proof of the crime for which I was twice unjustly condemned." This fresh lie, considering its origin, cannot possibly, he goes on, be treated with scorn. After asserting his innocence Captain Dreyfus continues :—"I am no more the author of the bordereaw annotated by,tbe German Emperor, which is only a forgery, than of the original authentic bordereau, which is Esterhazy's. Henry excepted, all the chief authors of my iniquitous condemnation are still living. I am not stripped of all my rights, I preserve the
right of every man, which is to defend his honour and to get the truth proclaimed. I have then the right, Sir, to ask you for an inquiry, and I have the honour to solicit it." One sympathises with Captain Dreyfus, but of course M. Waldeck- Rousseau cannot possibly grant his request for an inquiry. That would stultify the whole policy of amnesty,—and the policy of amnesty is essential to the welfare of France. But even though the Ministry refuses inquiry, as it must, we do not feel sure that the controversy may not be awakened in the Press, and with the worst possible results.
Previous page
