FIRM HAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23206, 28 November 1938, Page 11

FIRM HAND

FRENCH PREMIER ASKED TO RESIGN leftist opposition SPREAD OF AGITATION COLONIES AFFECTED By Telegraph—Press Association—(Received November 27, 8.20 p.m.) PARIS. Nov. 27 The Socialist- leader, M. Leon Blum, appeals to the Prime Minister, M. Daladicr, to resign and enable "a Government of union and 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.''' Tho Communist Party, which the Prime Minister intends to dissolve, owing to ,its refusal to obey the social laws and decrees, issiied a communique bitterly attacking M. Daladier and alleging that he was bringing about tho Hitlerisation of France. The party condemned the use of tear gas against the strikers in the l?enault motor works. The agitation is spreading to the French colonies, M. Daladier, however, feels that, in Epite of the adverse votes of the Leftist parties, he still possesses considerable Biipport throughout .he country and is determined to maintain a strong hand. All the strikers, numbering 50,000, employed in tho metallurgical works and mines, have been dismissed, necessitating their application for re-employ-ment, and thus enabling the rejection of agitators. Sixty of them have'been arrested at Parisian termini and will be charged with insurrection. No work was done yesterday in the factories at Lille and Valenciennes, ■where the strike is complete. The leaders hare ordered the strikers to take part 'in a mass parade at Lille, resulting, in the municipality demanding; that M. Daladier prohibit the assembly.'

General Douminc, commander of the northern military region, has arrived at Valenciennes, where he will open a court martial on Monday. GENERAL STOPPAGE PERIOD OF 24 HOURS "TRADES UNION DECISION NUMEROUS ARRESTS MADE | (Received November 27, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 20 The Trades Union executive decided io call a 24-hour general strike of 4,C00,000 workers for December 1, says tb<i Paris correspondent of the. E%*ening Ke'ivs. The executive sent a telegram to nnions all over France demanding a 100 per cent, observance of the order for the stoppage and ordering a resumption of work after 24 hours, and tho avoidance of incidents or hasty action. Twenty policemen and Mobile Guards were injured and 700 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 announce that 290 of the 700 arrested are being kept in custody and will be charged with combining for an armed' rebellion. The strikers broke the machinery and all the windows. Action by Government After a hurried meeting of the Cabinet it was announced that the Government had commandeered the railway in the Anzin district, where miners occupied the pits: Military forces took over the mines and railways and work was resumed. •-. This action resulted in the tension being relaxed, and the majority of the miners are resuming work. Sixty thousand metal workers are idle in the north of France. Of 282 Parisian demonstrators arrested, four have been sentenced to 10 days' imprisonment. Bank and Stock Exchange workers decided to participate in the general strike. Mobile Guards evicted the strikers froim 50 out of 70 factories, leaving 20,000 in occupation. Railwaymen held up suburban trains for 30 minutes, passengers joining in the shout of "Down with Daladier's decree laws." ' * Threat of Upheaval Two major developments are threatening political and economic upheaval. First, tho Trades Union decision to call a general strike, to which the General Confederation of Labour unanimously gave its support, and secondly, the Socialists' demand for M. Daladier's resignation, thereby officially withdrawing from tho Government's majority. M. Daladier stated that he would not tolerate tho holding up of tho essential Bjerrices, He conferred with military and municipal chiefs with a view to th«ir maintenance in the event of a complete stoppage.^ The Government will take ov»r tho iraihvavs to-morrow.

A decree will be issued to-morrow empowering the Government to requisition coal mines and the cognate industries in northern France engaged in war work, in which 51,000 workers are on strike.

STRIKE MOVE SPREADS GRAVITY OF SITUATION PUBLIC UTILITIES AFFECTED Independent Cabio Service (Received November 27, 11.20 p.m.) PARIS, Nov. 27 More and more classes of workers are declaring their intention of supporting the general strike, and they now include employees of the railways, buses, P°st offices, banks, shops, hotels, restaurants, factories and newspapers. ■The Federation of Labour has issued instructions providing for the maintenance of health services, food supplies, chtxnist shops and gas and electricity.