The Northern Advocate Registered for transmission through the Post as a newspaper. THURSDAY DECEMBER 4. 1947. The French Upheaval

Northern Advocate, 4 December 1947, Page 4

The Northern Advocate Registered for transmission through the Post as a newspaper. THURSDAY DECEMBER 4. 1947. The French Upheaval

Latest news from France suggests that the Communist attempt to hold up the country by means of a general strike has so far proved abortive. It will probably be revealed in due course that the upheaval in French industrial and national life generally has been, and still is, more serious than outsiders have realised. Though a general strike seems to have been averted, the number of idle workers in essential undertakings has reached a high level, and, but for the strong stand taken by the newly-formed Schuman Government, a chaotic state of affairs might easily have developed. The National Assembly, in an endeavour to demonstrate its ability to control the country by democratic means, has proposed anti-strike laws which, while reassuring the more moderate elements of the nation, have enraged Communists and Radicals generally. One article of the anti-strike bill is designed to ensure liberty to wort, and another provides for penalties of up to five years’ imprisonment and fines up to £IOOO for anybody attempting to stop work by sabotage or physical attacks. The need for such legislation has been stressed by a shocking act of sabotage which caused' the derailment of the Paris-Arras mail train, resulting in at least 20 people being killed and 40 seriously injured. Saboteurs, it is alleged, unscrewed the rails from the sleepers, with the result that the engine, tender and four carriages of the mail train were capsized and smashed. This outrage, for which Communists blame Rightists, and Rightis"s blame Communists, moved the Na-

tional Assembly to have all railways in France protected by police, who have also been placed on duly at all underground stations.

These incidents prove that, despite the return to work by many thousands of men. danger is by no means over in France, where a dangerous spirit of revolt has been fomented by Communists. Not without cause have these developments created speculation as to how far Moscow has been implicated. The Spectator, for instance, recently expressed the opinion that

“Russia’s aim is to maintain her own territories and to spread in other lands by any means possible the Communism in which a small but powerful minority of her people fanatically believe.”

Proceeding from this point, The Spectator agreed that Russia is entitled to be Communist; this right is not questioned, but it must be conceded just as readily that those who do not share Communistic enthusiasm for the overthrow, violent or otherwise, of the whole contemporary social order should watch Communist activities and counter them by all constitutional methods. In the fulfilment of its destiny, says the paper, it is inevitable that Communism, after being strongly established in Eastern Europe, should endeavour to move westward. Only through France can Communism hope to reach the shores of the Atlantic. So it is in France that the strongest Communist activity may be expected, if it is part of Russia's design to make her western move now.

This may be the explanation of the Communist attempt to seize power in France, an attempt which it would appear was launched prematurely.