STRIKES IN MARSEILLES

Chronicle (Levin), 18 November 1947, Page 5

STRIKES IN MARSEILLES

(N.Z2P.A.-

— Reuter

Over 1500 Trouble lakers RbundedUp

v Camiriaht).

Received Monday, 7.0 p.m. LGNDON, iV,v. 17. Police and military patrols iii luii battle order, rounded up -more rnai1500 troubiemakers yesterday, say> thBidtish Guited Pre.ss- Marseiiles correspondent. Of those rounded up 45c were detained for +urther quesGoning including 11 accused of being in x'ranct illegally. hroops scoured the streets and ques tioned a'nv body who acted suspieiousl^ and tooic into custody those who weri not quick with their answers. Uuion leaders, after t'ne announcement tha. troops would be used tomorrow to uu Load sliips at Mar.seilles threatened tc call strikes in every port in Prance. Sailors and two tugs are being sen. from Toulon to help in unloading. The Daily Telegraph's Alarseilies cor respondent says Commuuist organiset strikes liave extended to fresh branche of the public service and industry, th> workers belonging to local branches oj the G.G.T. (Ireiich T.U.C.) which tlu Oommunists dominated. The Communist policy is to extend the strike from dav to day witliout declaring a genera strike. ALany Erench observers take a serioui vievv of these tactics because thej' coin eide with the outbreaks of violence ai over Italy. It is suggested that if tlu Communists were successful in Mar seilles, they will regard the city as a springboard for plunging Prance intc civil strife and establ lshing a ''zone oi ins.ecurity" from the Mediterranean to the Atlautic. The troubles in Marseilles are a symptom of the developing clash betvveen the Conimunists and de Gaullists, says the Daily Telegraph in a leader. It seenis rcgrettable to the outside world that le Gaulle has' chosen ti» plough a lonelv iurrow instead of harnessuig his now unquestioned influence to parties striving for economic anu political stability. It is couceivable, had he chosen olherwise, that Prhnct: might soon be givem a Government capable of dealing with the material proDlems she now has to face. The clastics at Marseilles are an uglv sign that, vvith the jiresent political alignnient, there is a serious risk of a violent conflict.