STIR IN PARIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25300, 6 September 1945, Page 5

STIR IN PARIS

LEFT DRIVEN TOGETHER REBUFF TO TRADE UNIONS (Reed. 6.10 p.m.) PARIS, Sept. 5 General de Gaulle's refusal to receive a Lett Wing delegation for the discussion of aspects of the election campaign, now well under way, has caused a stir in France. General de Gaulle's action in refusing to meet the delegation is featured with banner lines in the Paris press. The Associated Press says his action appears to have again driven together members of the old Left bloc, which split in 1938. It is believed that none of the groups which were to have been represented m the delegation will now answer General de Gaulle independently, but will take joint action. After General de Gaulle's refusal to see M. Jouhaux, representatives of the French Trades Union Congress, the Communist Party, the Socialist Party, the Radical Socialist Party and the League of the Rights of Man met and passed a resolution protesting against "the haughty tone of General de Gaulle's reply to the request for an interview." The resolution added: "The Confederation Generate du Travail will never allow its rights to speak to be questioned when it is a matter of ensuring fair representation for all citizenß in expressing their views affecting the future of democracy."

The Right Wing Socialist newspaper Yoix de Paris says: "It is useless to hide the fact that General de Gaulle's refusal has created a serious situation." M. Leon Blum, leader of the French Socialist Party, who left for Londpn tonight after a long interview with General de Gaulle, expects his party to emerge from the elections in greater strength than since it was formed. He strongly favours the conclusion of a British-French alliance. A British correspondent in Paris says that anything in the nature of a Government crisis is unlikely, but the rank and file of the Left parties are very restive and it is certain that the Socialist, Communist and resistance members of the Government will do all they can to make General de Gaulle change his mind.