The Press TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1968. Student Unrest

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31678, 14 May 1968, Page 16

The Press TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1968. Student Unrest

Student unrest is not confined to France. Indeed, it has broken out there rather later than in many other countries; and it must be considered in a context of world-wide student " nvoit" against conformity. The authorities may have acted too hastily in closing faculties at Nanterre and the Sorbonne on the first, comparatively mild, provocation. The “lock-out” was an incitement to further protest; and it was certain, after what had been happening in Spain, West Germany, Czechoslovakia, Italy, the United States, India, and even in Britain, that Left-wing elements would take advantage of it In the outcome the French Government has come dose to capitulation, even to the extent of virtually guaranteeing a favourable review by the Appeal Court of sentences imposed on convicted students. Nor is there any certainty that political surrender and the promise of leniency will satisfy the activists, organised and led for the most part by elements aiming at political action by student bodies on an international scalein other words, at creating a new force in politics.

Trade union and Communist intervention in the French demonstrations was almost instantaneous. A

link between the rioting and the opening of the Vietnam truce talks seems more than probable. Students from a number <rf countries attended a Vietnam protest congress in Berlin in February. Towards the end of April student bodies in at least 10 countries pledged support for a one-day protest strike then being organised in New York against the war. The protest, it was indicated, would also be directed against racial oppression and conscription. Now, having tested its capacity to disrupt services and embarrass governments, the central student organisation, the European Congress of Syndicalist Students, is believed to be making the. North Atlantic Treaty alliance its next major target Such a move would be openly political. In 1969, member governments will have their first opportunity of withdrawing from the alliance, and Left-wing action will be concentrated on an attempt to destroy it Already demonstrations against the alliance, following a broad international pattern, are being planned.

The European Congress of Syndicalist Students came into being in Brussels early last year, after preliminary meetings in Geneva and Ghent Student union delegates from France, Spain, Belgium, Holland, Ireland, Switzerland, Portugal, and Germany were present. The burden of their argument appears to be that students should be regarded as intellectual workers and paid as other workers are. Who would carry the colossal burden of payment is not clear, since obviously neither governments nor business would accept it A substantial part erf the education budget in any advanced country is already spent on universities.

The so-called activists in student politics may not command widespread support within the student body; but it is known that in many countries, including Britain, leadership is being strongly challenged by Left-wingers anxious to influence policy and planning. Co-operation between student unions was once limited to the exchange of information and ideas: now co-ordination of action is the chief goal, as illustrated by the series of demonstrations against the war in Vietnam in Europe last year. Left-wing leaders visited all the participating countries to speak on aims and tactics.

It is against this background of organised student solidarity, reflecting Leftist political theory, that the Paris street fighting should be considered. As was suggested in a special article in the '* Financial “Times” which we reprinted a few days ago, a rather sinister movement of international proportions appears to be at work against the established order—the more sinister because, as yet, its aims are far from plain.