‘STRIKE WAR’ LED BY COMMUNISTS THREATENS FRANCE: WALK-OUT SPREADS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22667, 18 June 1948, Page 5

‘STRIKE WAR’ LED BY COMMUNISTS THREATENS FRANCE: WALK-OUT SPREADS

(10.25 a.m.)

(N.Z.P.A. —Reuter—Copyrlsbt.) PARIS, June 17.

The French Government faces a threat of "strike war" from the Communists similar to that which brought the country to a standstill last winter.

Demonstrations occurred outside the national assembly building in Paris tonight.

Fifty thousand workers are now striking in Marseilles, Lyons and other big towns in southern France in sympathy with the Clermont-Ferrand strikers, and the Communist-led General Labour Confederation has called a one-hour general strike throughout France on Saturday in support of them.

CLERMONT-FERRAND ALMOST ISOLATED

The confederation’s move has increased the possibility of the movement spreading. The Christian Federation of Labour, a breakaway movement from the General Labour Confederation, advised its members not to participate in the one-hour stoppage.

former German prisoners of war, 30 Spaniards and Italians. Agency correspondents said they were unable to find confirmation of any truce at Clermont-Ferrand but the strikers’ paving-stone barricades were deserted during the night when most of the strikers went home to sleep. Tne strikers remained in occupation of one factory and the police of another. The Associated Press says that five regiments of troops have reached Cler-mont-Ferrand. Fifty thousand workers are now out on a sympathy strike throughout France. The “front” was quiet with only defensive guards on paving-stones barricades in narrow Rue Fontgieve leading to the Bergougnan tyre factory where the major clashes occurred.

Clermont Ferrand is virtually isolated from the rest of France. Talks between the Government spokesman and the strikers’ representatives broke down today The local police chief, M. Pierre -Bertaux, representing the Ministry of the Interior refused the strikers’ demands that all troops and security guards be withdrawn from the town and ail strikers arrested in the past 48 hours be released. Troops and police cordoned all roads to prevent the reinforcement of the strikers.

A company of 500 Republican security guards were flown into the city from the Lyons area late on Wednesday night. An earlier report stated that the Cler-mont-Ferrand authorities and strikers had arranged truce terms which stated that the police were to withdraw to their original positions outside the factory and that the strikers should post a picket before each police barrier to stop any demonstrator reaching the police. It was not specified whether the police and troops would be evacuated from the factory itself. The management of the Bergougnan factory will be called in to try to settle the. wage dispute which led to the strike.

The telephone system is breaking down and a tacit truce continues as the troops and police, in full war kit, face the sullen strikers across barbed wire fences and barricades. Many strikers carry gas masks. Public transport is at a standstill. Many shops and cafes are closed and no newspapers are appearing. . The deputy Prefect for Clermont ■ Ferrannd, M. Pierre Bertaux, claimed r. that outside influences were behind the strike. He had proof that the srike had been planned a long time ago and said that those arrested included two

The casualties so far total 400 of whom 90 are civilians, Eighteen police are in hospital. The arrests total over 100.