FRENCH RAILWAY STRIKES ARE SPREADING

Wanganui Chronicle, 13 October 1948, Page 5

FRENCH RAILWAY STRIKES ARE SPREADING

(N.Z.P.A.—Copyright.) PARIS, Oct. 12 (Rec. 6pm).—The French railway strikes, which began ten days ago, have been steadily growing, although most of them are still on a small scale. Several main lines, particularly those between Paris and eastern France, are partly out of action. M. Jacques Tournemaine, an official of the Communist-controlled Confederation of Labour, said today that railway strikes would continue on a local basis and no nation-wide strike was planned. The Transport Minister (M. Christian Pineau) had long talks with representatives of Communist and nonCommunist'railway unions, at which it. is reported that he offered considerable concessions The Communist leaders refused to accept them and non-Communists asked for better terms- M. Pineau threatened to use force against strikers who prevented the passage of trains manned by nonstrikers. At Cherbourg dockside workers decided to strike for 24 hours today instead of joining the nation-wide dockers’ strike tomorrow, because they would otherwise lose big amounts in tips and overtime when the liners Queen Elizabeth and Mauretania arrive. Two Paris newspapers yesterday called on the Government to act against the Communists, reports Reuter’s Paris correspondent. The right wing newspaper “La ’Poque,” commenting on allegations by the Minister oi the Interior (M. Moch) that the Cominform had instructed the Communist party to sabotage Marshall Aid, said; “As the Government knows the Communist party is acting on our territory on ciders received from outside, the Governments’ strict duty is to dissolve the Communist party.” The right wing Radical newspaper “la’Aurore,” asked the Prime Minister (M. Queuille) why he delayed in taking action against the Communists after M. Moch’s revelations. “Are you waiting for M. Thorez to come to power and for the Republicans to march by rows towards the Siberian camps?” it asked.