ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the conversation between Pierre Laval and Judge Paul Mongibeaux regarding pre-war political career. The court had touched upon Laval's pre-war political career, his rapid rise, his personal fortune, not without insinuations that the some had been linked. The Presiding Judge continued his summary. The Presiding Judge continued his summary. He depicted Laval's central role in what he called the secret assembly. This was in fact an extraordinary session of the National Assembly composed of both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Mongibeaux said he would yield the floor to Laval. In accordance with the Constitution, the National Assembly had to be preceded by meetings of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Laval's indignation reached new heights as he faced his accusers. Readers of the Paris press would find a reasonably comprehensive report of the proceedings in Figaro, the newspaper of the business community, in Combat, the Gaullist organ and in Le Croix, the Catholic newspaper.
