Bitter Anti-Strike Debate Drags On In France

Chronicle (Levin), 2 December 1947, Page 5

Bitter Anti-Strike Debate Drags On In France

(N.Z.P.A.-

—Reuter,

Copyright)

Received Tuesday, 10.20 a.m. PARIS, Dec. 2. New outbreaks of violence between the police and strikers occurred in France today as the bitter 'debate in the National Assembly on the Government's antlstrike legislation entered its fourth day. Fights broke out at coal mines in Northern France when the police evicted the strike picke'ts and when the miners attempted to defy the pickets and resume work. A Ministry of the Interior spokesman said the strikers armed themselves with cudgels and were reihforced by North Africans carrying knives. Several workers were wounded. Armoured cars patrolled the mines area in the Valenciennes region. Armed troops are guarding the French national radio headquarters and affiliated premises in Paris "to present unauthorised entries." The entire Paris underground railway stopped at mid-day. The debate in the Assembly reached new heights of tumult and confusion. M. Daladier said: "The situation was the same as in September, 1939. The order to sabotage the Marshall plan has been issued in Moscow." The Deputies continued to shout insults at each other, pounded the desk lids and stamped their feet. The Communist benches became so noisy with cat-calls that they interrupted their own speakers.