IMPERILLING EUROPE

Chronicle (Levin), 8 October 1948, Page 5

IMPERILLING EUROPE

(N.Z.PJl^

-Reyter,

French Strike Cuts At Ihe Roots Of Recovery

Copvrightl

Received "Thursday, 7 p.m, LONDON, Oct. 7. The Freneh strike cuts at the'root pf French recovery and is the gravest ehallenge the moderate parties have yet had to face, says The Tim.es in .a leader outlinmg the implications of the strike. • Prolongation w.ould wipe out tniich of France 's Marshall aid bene fits an'd in this dilemma Genera'l de G-aulle sees his chance- of assuming power drawing uearer. To go far towards granting what the unions now want, would/ iu the present cireumstances, do little t'haii provoke another spurt of inflation. Events such as this week's mining strike are certain to present the. moderate parties with a stern test during the next few months. It is here that the real danger lies. The French public have lately shown many signs of -weariness wi-th the deepening confusion of policy. aua administration in much of everyday life. The moderate parties, no matter how sineere their jntentions, are less popular than before. What makes the division of French life more perilous for the stability of Europe is the likelihood that once restraint is renioved and a political clash is unavoidable, the de Gaullists would be seen as champions of the West and the Communists as supporters of the pretentions of the East. The immediate drama lies in the Government ;s determination to postpone the muaicipai elections. General de Gaulle, seeing his star in the ascendancy, wants the general election asv sonn as possible. The Communists, persuaded perhaps that they cannot in the end avoid it, appear to be not averse to an early trial of strength.