STRIKES IN FRANCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 28 November 1938, Page 7

STRIKES IN FRANCE

STRONG STAND BY PRIME MINISTER MASS DEMONSTRATIONS FORBIDDEN U.P A.-Bv Electric Telcgraph— Copyright PARIS. 26th November. The Prime Minister, M. Daiadier, lacing a troubled weekend, feels that, despite the adverse votes of the Leftist parties, he still possesses considerable support throughout the country and is determined to maintain a strong hand.

All the strikers, numbering 50,000, employed in tne metallurgical works and mines have been dismissed, necessitating their applying for re-employ-ment. and enabling the rejection of agitators. There was no work to-day in the j factories in Lille and Vallenciennes, | where the strike is complete Their leaders ordered the strikers to hold a mass parade in Lille, resulting in the municipality demanding that M. Daladier should prohibit the assembly. The agitation is spreading to the colonies General Douming, commander of the Nord Military Region, has arrived at Valenciennes, where he will open a court-martial in the morning. Two major developments are threatening a political and economic upheaval, first the trade union's decision for a general strike on 30th November, to which the General Confederation ot Labour lias decided unanimously to | give its support, and secondly the Socialists’ demand for M. Daladier’s resignation. thereby officially withdrawing from the Government’s majority. The Socialist leader, M. Blum, appeals to M. Daladier to resign, enabling a "Government of moral unity” to establish internal peace. M. Blum asserts that the strike movement was provoked by the Government and describes the situation as a “social battle, the consequences of which cannot be foreseen.”

M. Daladier stated that he will not tolerate the holding-up of essential services, and he conferred with military and municipal heads with a view to their maintenance in the event of a complete stoppage. REQUISITION POWERS A decree was issued to-day empowering the Government to requisition coal mines and cognate industries in Northern France which are engaged in war work, and in which 51.000 workers are on strike. The railways will also be requisitioned to-day. Military law has caused a relaxation of the tension and the majority of the miners are resuming. Sixty thousand metal workers are idle in North France. Mobile guards evacuated strikers from 50 out of 70 factories, leaving 12,000 in occupation. A military staff took over the Anzin mine and railways, and work has been resumed. Railway workers held up suburban trains for 30 minutes, the ! passengers joining in the shout, "Down with Daladier and the decree laws!” Chemical workers and builders in various districts are to strike to-day. The Government has forbidden mass demonstrations organised in the Paris region. The trade union executive has sent telegrams to unions throughout France demanding 100 per cent, observance of the stoppage of work on 30th November, and ordeiing the resumption of work next day and the avoidance of incidents of hasty action. In Paris 282 demonstrators were arrested and four sentenced to 10 days’ imprisonment. Sixty persons were arrested during demonstrations against the Government at the terminus of the Parisian railway The majority of them will be charged with insurrection. STRIKERS EJECTED Twenty police and mobile guards were injured and 450 workmen were arrested before the sit-down strikers were ejected from the Renault works. The workmen erected barricades and used iron bars as weapons. The police eventually used tear gas. The strikers broke the machinery and all the windows. Most of the Paris factories have now been evacuated. After a hurried Cabinet meeting it was announced that the Government had commandeered the railway in the Anzin district, where the miners occupied the pits. The strike is still unauthorised. Bank and stock exchange workers have decided to participate in a general strike if it is called. The police announce that 290 of 700 workers who were arrested after the Renault disturbances are being kept in custody on a charge of combining for an armed rebellion. The Communist Party has issued n communique bitterly attacking M. Daladier. alleging the Hitlerisation of France and condemning the use of tear gas against the workers at the Renault factory.