Former Premier Leon Blum, leader of the Popular Front government, intends to plead his own case in the war guilt trials opening in Riom next month, it was indicated today.
While ex-Premier Paul Reynaud, ex-Premier Edouard Daladier, ex-Interior Minister Georges Mandel and General Gustave Gamelin engaged prominent attorneys to defend them, Blum chose a little-known Paris Jewish lawyer of Russian origin named Samuel Spanien.
Meanwhile, it was announced that six “maitres de requete” of the Council of State were dismissed under the anti-Jewish statute of Oct. 18, which bars Jews from public service. They are Julien Reinach, Pierre Bloch-La Roque, Christian Valensi, Andre Helbronner, Michel Pontremoli and Jean Cahen-Salvador.
Reinach was appointed honorary State Councillor and the others were made honorary “maitres de requete.” Bloch-La Roque also resigned as member of the Labor Ministry staff, together with another official of the Labor Ministry, Narcisse Netter.
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