A COMPLETE FAILURE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 45, 2 December 1938, Page 5

A COMPLETE FAILURE.

THE STRIKES IN FRANCE. TENSE HOURS AT MARSEILLES. LONDON, November 30. The French strike was a complete failure. The Confederation of Labour has admitted that it has been broken in the Paris area because of the requisition order.

The Minister for the Interior (M. Sarraut) said that the situation was quiet and all essential services were operating. Only one-fourth of the workers were on strike in the steel industry, in which the most complete stoppage was expected. The general impression is that the workers bowed under the threat of military action, which reduced the strike to a fiasco.

Paris is almost normal, and with ’buses, taxis and underground trains running, the people are going to work as usual. Only a small percentage ol the postal and telephone workers obeyed the order to strike. Many Arrests in Paris. It is officially stated that 495 arrests were made in Paris. Eighty will be charged with attempts to impede work. Lille and Lyons are reported to be calm, but there is a tense situation at Marseilles, where black troops are guarding the railway stations, public buildings and bridges. Only a few trains are running, and the street transport system was brought to a standstill when the workers arrived at the depots hut refused duty. The Paris correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that M. Daladior has demonstrated that the requisition weapon can be used against employers as well as workers. On hearing that the Michelin Company had closed its works he ordered the requisitioning of the works, guaranteeing employment for thousands.

To-day’s fiasco resulted in strengthening M. Daladier’s authority throughout the country. The Government is now in a better position to apply M. Reynaud’s three-year financial iplan and to conduct international negotiations.