FRANCE FACES A CRISIS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 86, 28 April 1937, Page 5

FRANCE FACES A CRISIS

-Pre«B Assn.—

■ mt * 1 11 Extremist Demaitds On Premier DISTURBANCES FEARED

(By Telegraph-

-Wopyricht.)

(Eeceived 28, 9.0 a.m.) PARIS, April 27. The French Premier, M. Leon Blum, faces a financial, industrial and Parliamentary crisis this week, which might at any moment lead to serious disturbances. National demdnstrations are occurring all over France, demanding «cceleration of the Government's public works prpgramme, an energetic attack on the high cost of living, the early introduction of sliding scales of wages, ind pensions for old workers. However, neither public works nor private buildings are possible as long as the price of money remains high. Even if financial resources were available, M. Blum cannot yield to the trade unions without throwing overboard his promised "pause." The Times' Paris eorrespondent says ;hat the relations between capital and labour are growing steadily worse, envisaging the possibility of widespread labour confiicts. M. Blum proposes further td assure Parliament that he does not intend aither a fresh appeal to investors, or to indulge in fresh ,expenditure, there6y confirming his detemination to continue the "pause." The Times, in a leader, says that M# Blum will have to take a fircn stand against his own extremists to avert grave trouble and prevent the maleoatents from wrecking the Popular Front. Mobile guards have been draf ted to Nantes to protect houses of the ®mplayers' syndicate, following strike disturbances. The P. and O. and UniOn Castle lines have decided not to call at Marseilles for repairs owing to delays due to agitation in the shipyards.