REDUCED TO FIASCO

Evening Star, Issue 23129, 1 December 1938, Page 13

REDUCED TO FIASCO

THREAT «0F MILITARY ACTION EFFECTIVE ONLY CHE COMPLETE STRIKE LONDON, November 30. (Received December 1, at 8 a.m.) The Associated Press Paris special correspondent reports that 2,000,000 people are striking, which is less than half the membership of the Confederation of Labour. They are confined mainly to the mines and heavy industries.

The first reports from the provinces reveal that the public services are 90 per cent, normal —banks, insurance companies, railways, law courts, and Parliament. The city appeared normal at daybreak, with trains and buses functioning as usual and ignoring the confederation’s orders.

The general impression is that the workers have bowed under the threat of military action and have reduced the strike to a fiasco. The only complete strike is in the Alsace potash mine. Twenty railway men were arrested and 5,000 out of the 30,000 Renault workers have resumed.

At Valenciennes plants, shops and markets were closed. Mobile guards clashed with demonstrators who were trying to release six arrested men.

The dockers at Marseilles are working, but the city is without trams and taxis.

A later Paris message states that the strike is a complete failure. The Confederation of Labour admitted that it was broken in the Paris area owing to the requisition order.

M. Sarraut stated that the situation was quiet. All services were operating and only one-fourth of tne workers were striking in the steel industry, in which the most complete stoppage was expected. PARIS ENCIRCLED BY TROOPS TRAINS RUNNING TO SCHEDULE TANKS AND ARMOURED CARS IN READINESS (Independent Cable Service.) LONDON, November 30. (Received December 1, at 8 a.m.) The one-day general strike swung into action at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, or eight hours ahead of schedule, with a walkout of photographers and operators on the Paris ‘ Soir.’ This tvas followed at 6 p.m. by what is claimed to be a 100 per cent, stoppage at Hachette’s—great newspaper distributing agents in Paris—and gendarmes bearing rifles and mobile guards took up their positions on the sidewalks outside these buildings, while rouml the corner theatre patrons queued up lor a performance of ‘ Carmen ’ at the Opera Comiquc.

The offices of the Communist newspaper ‘ Humanite ’ are closely guarded by workers, who carefully scrutinise each visitor.

Ten thousand mobile guards arc stationed at strategic points near the working class quarters throughout Paris, and the city is encircled by 40,000 troops, including Senegalese and Spahis, with tanks and armoured cars in readiness. Troops moved into key positions throughout France, and occupied power stations, gasworks, and telephone exchanges.

Trains started running to schedule, the underground sections being opened at 5 a.m., with soldiers on the .platforms. The telephone exchanges are operating normally. AWAITING THE TEST RESPONSE WAS EXPECTED TO BE ONLY PARTIAL PARIS, November 30. At 1 a.m., although the strike was officially started at midnight, there was little evidence of it thus far. Zero hour for the railwayman is 4 a.m., but the real tost is at 7.30, when 7.000,000 other workers are due to enter factories, workshops, mines, etc. The extent to which they abstain will show the exact strength of the response to the strike call. Tiiere is little doubt, says ‘ The Times,’ that the response will only be partial, and all the essential services will be maintained. The only question is whether or not the movement will iproduce serious disorder. Strong forces of police and mobile guards are everywhere standing by, and will certainly be used if required. Only two morning papers have appeared thus far, ‘Le Matin ’ and ‘ Le Journal,’ each of four pages. A later message states that while M. Daladier appears to have the strike well in hand in the Paris area at 2 a.m. the situation in the provinces appears to be less satisfactory. Reports from Marseilles, Bordeaux, Roubais. and elsewhere indicate that civil servants are carrying out the confederation’s instructions regardless of M Daladier’s contrary orders. The Seamen’s Union in Marseilles, Toulon, and other seaports has forbidden members to start. Aided by non-unionists and members of the independent unions ‘ Le Petit Parisian,’ ‘ Le Jour,’ and 1 Le Petit Journal ’ also printed four-page papers. ARRESTED PEOPLE RELEASED M. DALADIER CLAIMS VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY PARIS, November 30. (Received December 1, at 1.30 p.m.) The majority of the 495 arrested in Paris during the day were released at night after verification of identity. The Bourse is strong. Rentes and equities arc marked up, and there is a heavy influx of expatriated funds. M. Daladier, in a broadcast to-night, claimed that by the failure of the strike the country had shown confidence in the Government. “ I said I would make the authority of the State respected,’’ he said. “It has been respected.” People knew that their 'liberties were not endangered by the Government’s social laws. They knew their liberties were only endau-

gerod by disorder and lack of discipline. Trade union liberty itself demanded restraint. The people had proved that democracy could prevent disorder. The world now knew that France had triumphed over internal uncertainty and was stronger than before. He concluded that the Government’s role would be conciliation and co-opera-tion between the employers and the workers.

PREMIER’S AUTHORITY STRENGTHENED

GOVERNMENT IN BETTER POSITION TO APPLY DEGREES

LONDON, November 30. (Received December 1, at 12.15 p.m.) The 1 Daily Telegraph’s ’ Paris correspondent says M. Daladier 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, ho ordered the requisitioning of the works, guaranteeing the employment of 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. Renaud’s three-year financial plan and conduct international negotiations.

M. DALADIER SATISFIED FAITH IN CIVIL SERVANTS TRAM PASSENGERS INJURED IN LILLE PARIS, November 3U. (Received December 1, at 1 p.m.) 11 I am satisfied,” declared M. Dalndier. “ I never doubted that the Civil servants wmuld remain at their posts.” M. Johaux, secretary-general of the Trades Union Executive, said there was a complete stoppage for two hours, but owing to the military measures, they had uot contested resumption of work.

At Lille hundreds of strikers stopped three tramcars, using spades looted from an ironmonger’s shop, smashed the windows, and injured 10 passengers. The mobile guards placed a cordon round the area. Mounted troops charged and 50 arrests were made. Many people were injured on both sides.

At Toulouse 2,000 attempted to raid department stores. The police intervened, resulting in a serious clash.