AN UGLY TURN

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 138, 12 June 1936, Page 9

AN UGLY TURN

FRENCH STRIKES DEFIANCE IN PARIS WORKERS OUT OF CONTROU ALIENATING SYMPATHY United Press Association—By Electric Ttlegrapli—Copyright (Received June 12, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 11. The Paris correspondent of "The Times" says that the good impression created by Sunday's settlement of the French strike is slowly evaporating, the numbers of new striker® exceeding the numbers of those who are resuming. Thousands of strikers marched cheering down the bouleyards waving red flags, while others careered in taxis, shouting defiant slogans. The Trades Union Council's authority is not as strong as the leaders supposed, and the workers are ignoring its decrees and instead

are returning en bloc and consolidating the advantages won. They are taking up collections and exhausting middle-class sympathy by waging guerrilla war in order to squeeze the utmost from individual employers. EXTENSION OF TROUBLE. The strikes have extended to first* class Parisian restaurants and hotels. Factories are idle at Bordeaux, where shipyard workers took possession ol the liner Cap Padaran. A boat-builder at Marseilles, angered with his striking staff, fired a revolver at them, and was arrested after wounding one of them. The franc continues to sag, but the exchange market is inert. ' At Algiers 700 sugar factory handa struck and occupied the premises. RENEWAL OF ALARM. The same correspondent of "Tht Times" says that the elation in Gov* ernment and Labour circles at the settlement of the strike in principle « evaporating. There is even renewed alarm in some quarters, not only because the strikers refuse to resume despite the generous terms, but also because the strike, hitherto a model ol discipline and good humour, is taking an uglier turn. The Vice-Premier, M. Daladier, nai announced the arrest of a number of armed agent provocateurs while strikers are organising street demonstrations at Paris and elsewhere. A procession yesterday obstructed traffic. There is a danger of such demonstrations becoming unmanageable, especially as M. Blum declared that he would not usa force against strikers. This is T®* B'*"8'*" ii as a blunder, even by friendly oritics. There is also the possibility of counter-demonstrations by the Croix aa Feu and less peaceful bodies. SOCIETY WOMEN CONCERNED. The "Daily Mail's" Paris correspondent savs that a strike of 20,000 cutters, seamstresses, designers, and fitters at fashionable dressmakers', including Molyneux, Jean Paton, Paquin. and Worth, has caused consternation among English and French society women, who fear delay in the delivery of dresses for forthcoming functions, including Ascot and the French Derby on June 14. Already three fashionable French weddings have been postponed. It is expected that thousands of pounds' worth of orders will be placed in London instead of Paris. M. Reynard, ex-Finance Minister, M. Rollin, ex-Minister of Commerce, ana other critics strongly opposed the 40hour week Bill during discussion by a Parliamentary Commission. M. J*ubert, Radical Socialist, reserved h« opinion, which is regarded m cant, as the Radical Socialists wer# expected to support the new Bills. The Premier, M. Blum, defended th« measure. He contended that a 40-hour week would accelerate currency rhythm, and promised vigorously t<» support weaker industries.