STRIKE THREAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 November 1938, Page 5

STRIKE THREAT

ACTION BV THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT MOBILISATION OF RAILWAY WORKERS. ALL CIVIL SERVANTS WARNED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. PARIS, November 29. Official notices are being posted through the country ordering the mobilisation of railwaymen and others involving severe penalties if they participate in the strike. M. Pierre Semard, Communist secretary of the Railwaymen’s Federation, states that nothing is to be gained by compulsion. The men will, if necessary, adopt passive resistance and remain at their posts “deaf and dumb.” The Parisian retailers have promised to open their shops on the day of the general strike. Members of the professional union of Paris voted against a strike.

I The Parisian metal workers voted - to return to work, but only about 1700 1 were admitted to the Renault works, ■ mostly clerks. ! M. Daladier has dispatched telegrams to police chiefs throughout ’ France ordering them to take strict ; action against any civil servant failing > to work and ordering a list of absen- ' tees to be notified by telegram to him. Police must also report all propaganda campaigns advocating a stoppage. ANXIETY IN BERLIN. FOREIGN MINISTER’S VISIT POSTPONED. BERLIN. 'November 29. Nazis are anxiously watching the French strike situation as it is realised that a setback to M. Daladier would destroy all possibility of a Four-Power Pact for a long time. Meanwhile no date has yet been named for the visit to Paris of the German Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop. ORDERS TO FLEET HELP IN MAINTAINING ORDER AND SERVICES. PUBLIC SERVICES ON WAR BASIS. (Independent Cable Service.) PARIS, November 29. Sensational reports are current that the French fleet has been ordered to port to help maintain order and the essential services. The crews will be dispatched to Paris and other centres in case of trouble. The “Journal Official” has published a decree applying a law passed on July 7, 1938, mobilising all public services on a war basis and obliging workers to attend their posts just as though war had been declared. DRASTIC ACTION WAR TIME EMERGENCY DECLARED. GOVERNMENT -DETERMINED TO KEEP ORDER. (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.PARIS, November 29. Facing the gravest domestic crisis since the war, the Government has announced a series of the strictest measures to meet the strike tomorrow. M. Daladier has claimed far-reach-ing powers, including the requisitioning of every citizen, private organisations, railways, shipping and airways, in an official ruling for the application of a war time emergency, to which a majority of the members of Cabinet agreed. The Government has commandeered all mines and cognate industries in Alsace. The Government has requisitioned lhe Law Courts staffs. Tanks and armoured cars are standing by in various areas throughout France to deal with trouble. The first rioting has occurred at ( Valenciennes, where strikers attempt- ' ed to prevent workers entering fac- ] tories. Mobile Guards intervened and wounded and arrested several pickets. Troops have occupied several Valenciennes factories, but 400 strikers, under the leadership of the Communist • Deputy-Mayor, seized the public hall. Marly strikers sabotaged buses, to prevent their use in transporting ' workers tomorrow. 1

M. Daladier, reporting to the President, M. Lebrun, declared: “Harmful propaganda is attacking the laws and endeavouring to agitate the country, thereby risking a seiious compromise of public order and a dangerous effect on the foreign situation. The Government is determined to maintain necessary order.”

The Government has ordered legal proceedings against M.M Jarrigon and Senard, joint secretaries of the Railways Union, who circularised branches, urging them to strike.