Confrontation At Nanterre

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31865, 18 December 1968, Page 19

Confrontation At Nanterre

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) PARIS, December 17. Gendarmes and militant students confronted each other at Nanterre today after a warning from the Prime Minister (Mr Couve de Murville) that the Government was resolved not to allow new disorders in France.

A cordon of police surrounded the arts faculty, ready to go into action at the slightest sign of violence as the potentially-explosive confrontation moved into its second day. The Ministry of Education had announced that the identity checks of students entering the faculty—where militants have declared “a week of strikes and agitation”— would continue today. The Prime Minister underlined the Government’s resolve during a 15-minute television broadcast last night, when he reviewed the economic and university situation. The Government would spare no effort to right the situation in France, he declared. But, oh yesterday’s evidence, the Nanterre students are in no hurry to precipitate a head-on clash. Though isolated scuffles broke out during the dav. the hard core of 1200 militants filed out of the faculty peacefully at nightfall past the lines of police guarding the entrances. But student opinion is

[hardening in the face of the (Government’s tough stand [against agitators, particularly the use of the gendarmerie.