SOVIET OF FRANCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 207, 15 June 1936, Page 5

SOVIET OF FRANCE

DEMONSTRATION BY STRIKERS. HUGE OPEN-AIR' GATHERING. STRANGE VISIIONI OF THE FUTURE. REQUIEM FOR FASOIST VICTIMS. (United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, June 14.The Paris correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that, marking the termination of the majority of the strikes, hundreds of thousands of employees Who are to resume work tomarrow marched in- orderly file from the workshops. Bodies of men afterwards returned to many factories and spent hours removing the revolution—ary mural drawings and notices. The Paris correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian” says that While racegoers representing half of Paris went to Chantilly to see the the French Derby the other half spent the afternoon at a victory festival organised by the Communist party at an open air stadium in a. working-class suburb. Everything was well organised, and there were flags and banners on a colossal scale. Hundred of thousands crowded the grandstand and 100,000 stood in the sunny arena, which was bisected by a. raised gangway lead—ing to the speakers’ platform. The tl‘icolour alternated with red flags and banners, inscribed “Free, strong, happy France,” floated from each end of the stadium.

Every one were red emblems, A huge picture of the late Henri Barboussie adorned the speakers’ platform. The band: played revolutionary tunes While squads of victorious strikers bearing banners and displaying hammer and sickle badges, rparaded the gangway' as the crowds cheered for the Soviets. Suddenly four great flags were broken from the flagpoles in the middle of the arena. These were examples of the newly-devised national 'flag of the Soviet of France, namely a red flag quartered with tricolour and Communist hammer and'sickle between the golden letters R.F. on the flag. The Paris Correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian” says there was a. strange vision of a new France in the making when the names of 22 victims of Fascism, killed in street fights in the past two years, were read at a gathering of workers. A drum tapped a requiem after each name, a bandi finally playing the Russian funeral march.

The speakers delivered addresses, triumphantly recording the result of the strikes and prophesying a more prosperous future to the workers.

MANY INDUSTRIES RESUMING.

UNDERTAKERS’ MEN COME OUT. FIRE STARTED IN A FACTORY. PARIS, June 13. The Municipal Council resolved to decline all responsibility for any damage by strikers, the illegality of which the Government recognised but had not attempted to condemn. The Ministry of Labour has announced the termination of the strikes in the cabinet-making, butchering, dressmaking, slop clothing, leather bag and trunk trades, While metallurgical workers, builders, carpenters, and locksmiths are expected to resume work on Monday. At Amiens, undertakers’ employees struck, rendering funerals impossible. Warders at a mental hospital struck and left the director singleqhanded. The inmates of a factory deliberately set it on fire, but the flames were extinguished by firemen. .

SOME SECTIONS STILL OUT. TROUBLE EXTENDS TO MOROCCO. PARIS, June 14. The industrial situation is greatly improved. Strikers everywhere are returning to work. With the metal workers’ dispute settled, it is generally hoped that the back of the strike is broken, The employees of Citroen and Re« nault have formally evacuated the factories. Renault employees, dressed in carnival costumes, held a procession of flower-laden taxi-cabs, in celebration of their victory. There were similar demonstrations in many suburbs. Work will generally be resumed on Monday, although builders and. painters, Parisian stores assistants, insurance clerks, and river canait boatmen are still standing,r out. The Paris dock—ers came out, joining the boatmen, Twelve hundred employees of the Nieuport aeroplane. 'wprks have begun a stay—in stoppage. The movement has spread to Morocco, where native sugar refiners and metal workers struck. ' Foreigners were relieved to find waiters and other hotel and restaurant workers back at work this morning. Many visitors were unable to obtain food yesterday; Others returned. to their hotels to find the doors closed, and. had the greatest difficulty in. entering. The luxury hotels maintained only a skele—ton service. The strike in departmental stores continues, notwithstanding a settlement reached earlier in the week. Employers at Nice closed. every big store as a nrotest against the workers occupying one of the more important shops. The Government is hopeful of the rapid passing of legislation to encourage the strikers to resume work.