CHANGE IN FRANCE

Grey River Argus, 21 February 1945, Page 5

CHANGE IN FRANCE

DE GAULLE ON TOP Revolution in the Discard (Rec. 10.10). LONDON, February 20. A correspondent of The Observer in Paris’" has reported that there has been almost a complete change in the political situation of France during the last five months.

He says: In September the atmosphere in Paris was one of incipient revolution, while in the provinces there were a number of isolated, but by no means insignificant, attempts by the Communists to take over the control of factories and villages, and even of large towns. The ' country seethed with revolutionary zeal. To-day, revolution has been postponed indefinitely. Temporarily, at least, Conservatism has triumphed. General De Gaulle’s Provisional Government is a Coalition Government. It is based solidly on the support of the moderate Roman Catholic elements on the Right and the Communists on the Left. Since the conclusion of the Franco-Soviet Treaty; it is hardly' an exaggeration to say that the Communist Farty in France has become the mainstay of General De Gaulle, and an ardent advocate of' moderation. No one has any illusions about this sudden conversion! No one expects it to last any longer than will suit the- strategy of Moscow, and the tactics of the French Communist leaders. But if, and when, the Communists decide to go into opposition against General De Gaulle,-; his position is not likelyt to be seriously effected. His supremacy in the Frencn political arena to-day' is evidently unchallenged, and is more unchallengable than. ever. More significant than this conversion of the Communists is the political defeat of the more revolutionary' elements in the Frenchresistance’ movement, which is no longer a factor in French politics. Its rank and file is composed of young men and women of every “advanced" political and social ideas, but the violent excesses committed by’ some, and the preference of the average person to see French production restarted, instead of seeing immediate nationalisation, have caused it to lose influence. The peasants also have been a‘ big political factor. Having enriched themselves during the occupation by profiting from black market prices for,food, they have become more conservative, and, in this mood, they have tended to turn back towards the old political parties, who formerly sponsored and protected their interests, particularly th e Radical Party. SECRET MASS GRAVE IN FRENCH PRISON.

PARIS, February 19. Sixty bodies have been discovered in a mass grave in the Gouguen Prison at Brest. They are believed to be those of former prisoners who were either tortured to death or died of starvation and ill-treatment.