CRISIS IN BELGIUM

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30975, 3 February 1966, Page 13

CRISIS IN BELGIUM

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright)

BRUSSELS, Feb. 2.

A bitter, violent coal-miners’ strike and a threatened walkout by the country’s 9000 doctors placed serious strain on the Belgian Cabinet today.

Parties in the coalition government of Social Christians (Catholics) and Socialists were repeatedly divided on how to avert a strike by the doctors, who have said they will walk out if their demands for a ban on free medical treatment in hospitals are not met by midnight on Sunday. Belgian newspapers today said a Cabinet crisis might be in the offing. An emergency Cabinet session lasted until early today. The Socialists who apply for free medical treatment in their party’s sponsored hospitals, reject the doctor’s demands.

The Social Christians want to give in to the doctors to avoid a disastrous repetition of the general medical stoppage which paralysed the country two years ago. Asked afterwards about reported differences between the parties, the Economics Minister, Mr Marc-Antoine Pierson, replied: “The discussions are not finished yet.”

Peace Visit—The general council of Japan's trade unions is to dispatch missions to Australia, New Zealand, the United States and South-east Asian countries in an attempt to end the Vietnam war.— Tokyo. February 2.