MILITARY CONTROL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 November 1938, Page 6

MILITARY CONTROL

FRANCE VIRTUALLY ON WAR FOOTING FIRM ACTION AGAINST STRIKERS. HEAVY PENALTIES PROVIDED. By ’Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received This Day, 12.45 p.m.) PARIS, November 29. The whole of France tonight and until agitation ceases is under military control, virtually on a war time footing. The Government has freely requisitioned property and labour throughout the nation, which means that strikers are liable to heavy penalties. Everybody knows that these penalties cannot be inflicted on huge masses. Nevertheless fear is a potent weapon. The Government has actually set the law in motion against officials jf the Railwaymen’s Union for issuing strike orders after the promulgation of the decree requisitioning the railways, but there has been no effect thus far on the union’s determination to carry on the strike. The Government is ready for any emergency. Troops have been reinforced by tanks and armoured cars drawn up on the parade ground of the Military School in the centre of Paris. Troops are heavily guarding twenty factories in Valenciennes and elsewhere. A clash with the police occurred at Raismes, where a thousand strikers attempted to free six who had been arrested for trying to prevent men going to work. The police have arrested many foreigners spreading propaganda in mines and factories. M. Jouhaux has received a telegram from the British Independent Labour Party expressing solidarity. The management of the Renault Works stated that the strikers caused £ll,OOO worth of damage and are losing £33,000 in wages daily. FINANCE BILL SURPLUS AFTER RIGOROUS PRUNING. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received This Day, 1.25 p.m.) PARIS, November 29. M. Reynaud (Finance Minister) tabled the Finance Bill for 1939, showing, after rigorous pruning, a surplus of £1,500,000. The Bill reveals that France will spend 160 millions sterling more on armaments than in 1938. The yield from the increase in direct taxes is expected to be twenty-eight millions and from the increase in indirect taxes, 23J millions. M. Reynaud anticipates that the new policy will encourage a revival of trade, resulting in an increase of revenue of thirty-five millions.