THE FRENCH CRISIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23669, 29 November 1938, Page 9

THE FRENCH CRISIS

OPPOSITION TO DECREES TWENTY-FOUR-HOUR STRIKE MAY EVEN BE PROLONGED MANY PROTEST MEETINGS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) PARIS, Nov. 27. (Received Nov. 28, at 5.5 p.m.) The Government and the Trades Union Confederation are engaging in a fight to a finish on the battleground of a genera] strike. The Ministry expects to maintain public services, despit' defiance. M. Henri Raynaud, the Communist secretary of the Paris Federation, said that if a 24-hour strike did not suffice it would be prolonged. It entails the closing of factories, mines, offices, banks, stores, kinemas, theatres, and large provision shops, the stoppage of newspapers, radio, railway, road and water transport, port activities, work in hotels, cafes and restaurants, trunk international but not local telephone services, and the closing of post offices and schools. It will not affect chemists, or the distribution of food, gas, electricity and water. M. Pierre Semard, secretary of the General Railwaymen's Union, promises the observance of discipline among the men remaining on the lines as a guarantee of security. M. Daladier broadcast an appeal to the public to support the decrees. He declared that neither dictatorship nor Fascism was intended. M. Blum urges the Government to stop in time, and emphasises the many perils surrounding France. He says that anybody who brings the country's masses against the Government is guilty of high treason. The Trades Union Confederation and the Labourite Socialists are fully aware that they are handling political dynamite, as indicated by their insistence that there is no political motive and demanding the utmost discipline, though protest meetings and demonstrations were held throughout France during the week-end, sometimes clashing with the police. The Metalworkers' Union has ordered 25,000 members to remain idle. The Farman aeroplane factory has locked out 3400 workers for refusing to work overtime. FOREIGN ORGANISATIONS THREATS TO GOVERNMENT (Independent Cable Service) PARIS, Nov. 28. (Received Nov. 29, at 0.30 a.m.) M. Daladier, in a broadcast, said the strikes and sudden occupations of factories represent an attempt to impede by brute force the policy of peace which the Government is pursuing. He added: " Certain heads of International organisations warned us that they were about to begin a mass attack against the Government. They are trying to force us to capitulate to threats, but the Government is resolved to accomplish its duty to the nation. I appeal to, all Frenchmen to reflect on the consequences which a period of disorder might have on the country's destinies." There is a widespread conviction that M. Daladier, whether deliberately or not, is pushing France along the road to Fascism. His repeated accusations against " foreign organisations " are interpreted as heralding anti-democratic campaigns while : the increasing use of military forces appears as a foretaste of what might follow if the workers continue to resist the decrees. MINERS RETURNING TO WORK INSTRUCTIONS OBEYED (Independent Cable Service) PARIS, Nov. 27. It is reported that the Valenciennes miners obeyed the union instructions to return to work. Eight thousand striking Polish coal miners resumed after M. Daladier's threat of expulsion from the country. The police allege that many of those arrested when the strikers were driven out of the Renault works were members ">f the International Brigade recently brought from Spain, and they declare that the Lille and Anzin strikers are led by members of the International Brigade. Four of the Renault strikers who chose a summary trial were fined 25 francs each and sent to gaol for 10 days on a char- ? of rebellion. Two 'thousand two hundred and eighty-two will be tried later.