The Amnesty Bill

The text of the amnesty bill was tabled yesterday.

Here is the explanatory statement:
The government resulting from the elections of May 11 considered that it should open the 13th legislature by asking the Chambers for a measure of clemency and forgiveness.

He invites Parliament to undertake the work of appeasement by submitting to it an amnesty project broad enough to bring about general pacification of minds.

It seemed to him that the time had come to be generous towards a large number of those convicted for military offenses and to also grant amnesty, to the greatest extent, for political offenses. To the acts of strike, press, election, violations of the laws on associations and unions, the only ones generally covered by the amnesty laws, the government proposes to add the facts which, since 1914, have been sanctioned by the High Court.

The government finally asks you to delegate to it, for one more year, the right to grant amnesty to those convicted of war councils; it will apply it in the most liberal manner.

The project includes amnesty in particular for all offenses relating to the press, unions, associations, hunting, fishing, pharmacy, requisitions, indirect contributions, customs, contempt, breaking of seals, violence, assault, simple beatings, etc. and for simple police violations.

The amnesty pardon referred to in the project constitutes a gracious measure organized by the law of April 29, 1921 and the effects of which expired on June 1. The extension of this measure will allow individuals condemned by the war councils, after examination of particular cases, to benefit from a pardon which constitutes amnesty from the point of view of its legal effects.