PARTIAL RESPONSE IN PARIS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 44, 1 December 1938, Page 5

PARTIAL RESPONSE IN PARIS.

NORMAL ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

SOME DOUBT IN PROVINCES

LONDON, November 30,

The strike in the city ,area of Paris has been broken,. and essential services are normal. The situation in the provinces, however, is doubtful. At 1 a.m., although the strike officially began at midnight, there was little evidence of it so far. Tire real test was at 7.30 a.m., when 7,000,000 workers were due to enter the factories, workshops and mines. The extent to which they have abstained will show the exact strength of the response to the strike call.

There is little doubt, says the Paris correspondent of “The Times,” that the response is only (partial, and all es-. sential services will be maintained. The only question is whether or not the movement will produce serious disorder. Strong forces of police and Mobile Guards are everywhere standing by and wiy certainly be ; used if required.

While the Prime Minister (M. Daladier) appears to have the strike well in hand in the Paris area, the situation in the Provinces appears less satisfactory. Reports from Marseilles, Bordeaux, Roubaix and elsewhere indicate that the civil servants are carrying out the Labour Confederation’s - instructions, regardless of M. Daladier’s instructions to the contrary. The Seamen’s Union in Marseilles, Toulon and other seaports has forbidden members to start work.

' Assisted by non-unionists and members of independent unions, “Le Matin” “Le Journal,” “Petit Parisien,” “Le Jour” and “Le Petit Journal” printed four-page papers.

FIRST STOPPAGE OF WORK f

NEWSPAPER OPERATORS OUT.

(Independent Cable Service.) LONDON, November 30

The strike at Paris swung into action at 4 p.m. yesterday, eight hours ahead of schedule, with a walk-out by photographers and operators of the “Paris Soir.” This was followed at 5 p.m. by what is claimed to he a 100 per cent, stoppage at Maison Hachette — the great newspaper distributing agents of Paris—and gendarme's and Mobile Guards took up their positions on the sidewalks outside these buildings. Round the corner at the theatre doors crowds queued up for the performance of “Carmen” at the Opera Comique. The offices of the Communist newspaper “Humanite” were closely guarded by the workers, who carefully scrutinised each visitor. Tert thousand Mobile Guards are stationed at strategic points near the working-class quarters. The city is encircled by 40,000 troops, including Senegalese and Jlpahis, with tanks and armoured cars in readiness.

Troops moved into key positions throughout the country and occupied power stations, gas works and telephone exchanges. The trains started running to schedule. The underground railways opened at 5 a..m. with soldiers on the platforms. The telephone exchanges are operating normally. The “Journal Official” has published a decree applying to the law of July 11, 1938, mobilising all public services on a war basis'and obliging workers to attend all their posts just as though war had been declared.

The President (M. Lebrun) yesterday received General Gamelin, Chief of the French General Staff. .