French Workers Defeat Laval

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 256, 29 October 1942, Page 5

French Workers Defeat Laval

Threat of Strikes Curbs German Demands (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Received Thursday, 12.40 a.m. LONDON, Oct. 28. The threat of a general strike la France has compelled Germany and Vichy to climb down over the compulsory deportation of French workers to Germany. The fear that the consequent paralysis of French transport would be disastrous if a second front was opened, caused Germany to order Vichy to negotiate with the workers. The Daily Mail says it is the first time since tho fall of France that tho Germans have been forced to yield to an ultimatum. Trouble flared up at Gnomerolione aeroengine works where 700 out of 4000 wor> rs were chosen for immediate transfer to Germany. Only 15 agreed to leave whereupon Laval ordered the discharge of the other 685. The effect was like an explosion. Every worker flung down his tools and the authorities called out the mobile guards. The chiefs of three great underground organisations, told Vichy that a general strike would begin unless the conscription of workers for Germany was abandoned. The Germans threatened to courtmartlal the workers’ leaders, who retorted: "We are used to courtmartials. We will strike.” Laval was ordered to open negotiations with the union leaders although the unions had been declared illegal. After three days of the greatest tension, Laval informed the Gestapo that he had failed and the strike would go on if the workers were conscripted. The Germans put the enrolment date forward to October 22 and then October 30. The Vichy cabinet held an acrimonious meeting which broke up without a decision being reached. The Germans finally backed down and deferred the registration date to December 31. Vichy radio, appealing to-day to FrencTt workers to go to Germany, said: “If you refuse, the line of demarcation between the two French zones which Is at present symbolic and temporary, will become real and lasting. A Geneva report states that the police had to clear rioting crowds from platforms when four train loads of French workers left Paris for Germany on October 27. The workers arrived in escorted lorries and German infantry guarded the station approaches.