PARIS STUDENTS QUIETER

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31680, 16 May 1968, Page 13

PARIS STUDENTS QUIETER

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) PARIS, May 15. There are signs that public support for militant Paris students still seeking extreme university reform is dwindling. Revolutionary student demands lost some of their

steam with the announcement last night by the Prime Minister, Mr Georges Pompidou that he would set up a consultative committee of students, teachers and parents to discuss changes in the edu cational system. The students have been pressing for something on these lines all along. But extremists still want the examination system ended and all the universities opened

to workers deciding their own curricula in conjunction with the students.

Public opinion, in sympathy with student demands up till now, seems alienated by this stance. The Nobel prize winner, Professor Alfred Kastler, a leading student supporter, said last night the students would lose ground if they pushed their demands too far Yesterday’s National Assembly debate on the university question was marked by angry scenes as Opposition groups shouted for the Government’s resignation and members almost came to blows.

Mr Pompidou’s announcement on a consultative com mittee expanded the conciliatory line he has taken with the students since his return on Saturday from official visits to Iran and Afghanis tan.

He has won admiration for his reasonable handling of the student problem, but the Government has faced heavy at tack for the way police dealt

with la st week’s demonstrators. The chief target has been the In terior Minister, Mr Christian Fouchet, booed in the National Assembly yesterday when he tried to present his case for using riot police The students themselves have s aid university activities will b e sabotaged until Mr Fouchet, the Sorbonne rector, Mr Jeam Roche and the police chief, Mr Maurice Grimaud, had resigned or been fired.