New-York tribune., 1907-06-02
SEA TRADE PARALYZED
AL FRENCH PORTS SHUT.
GoUernment's Position Difficult
Effect on Other Industries.

Paris June 1.-The Cabinet met to-day and
d,scussed the maritime strike. The measures
,sken by the Minister of Marine, NJ Thomson,
to insure the dispatch of mails to the colonies
nv transports and TO maintain communication
nv mail with Mediterranean ports by means Of
destroyers and torpedo boats were approved.
other measures We're adopted by the ministers,
n be put in force if the strike is prolonged. but
.heir nature was not announced when the meet
ing adjourned. It became known, however.
that no decision had been reached regarding the
proposal TO allow foreign ships the privilege.
hitherto confined to French vessels, of bringing
cargoes from the French colonies free Of duty.
It is considered doubtful whether the change
would afford much relief while the other
hand it might be resented by the strikers and
might drive them to violence.
While Minister Thomson says he hopes that
the strikers will recognize the logic Of facts
and come to their Senses" the government
seems to be almost helpless. The seamen's or
ganiZation is making IT clear that they have no
cause for complaint against the ship companies,
and that the fight is against the government for
an increase Of pensions of men Of the Naval Re-
serve, 10 which nearly all the striking officers,
engineers, seamen, longshoremen and even the
asheruen belong In order TO emphasize the
nature Of the struggle the strikers at Havre and
insure the safekeeping of the ships. cooks and
stewards to feed the enigrants and men to run
the refrigerating plants. in addition to unload
ing all perishable freight, such fruit. AS the
strike affects only French shipping, foreign yes
sels at French ports Of call are being unloaded
by the strikers.
There is no doubt that the situation is grave.
French sea commerce is paralyzed, and unless
there is a speedy settlement of the dispute. many
industries will be compelled to shut down and
,bousands Of 7vorkrnen in other branches Of
trade will De thrown into idleness. The strike
today was extended TO Dunkirk, Calais. Bou-
logne. Gravelines. Bordeaux and other ports
which were not affected yesterday. and the tie
up is now complete everywhere in France
Algeria and Tunis. The commercial interests
are CRYING out against the so-called tyranny Of
the labor organizations" and against the gov
ernnnent for not being able to meet the strikers
demands
The position Of the government, however. is
admitted TO be extremely difficult. The justice
Of the statement Of the seamen that successive
French governments since Louis XIV have
borrowed" immense sums from the seamen's
funds is recognized, but the culprits cannot now
be made TO disgorge. and with the means at the
disposal OF the Treasury the Marine Minister
says It is impossible 10 increase the minimum
Of the age pensions TO SI-o ana SooO TOT the
men and officers, respectively, as the seamen's
organization demands. The government points
out that the railroad men must be provided for,
and adds that the scale asked by the seamen
is far IN excess Of the scheme for old age work
mems pensions which the government has under
consideration.
In order not TO remain entirely passive some
Of the navigation companies took action against
the strikers to-day Formal charges Of de-
sertion were made against nearly nine thou
sand officers, engineers, seamen and others who
have abandoned their ships, and under the de-
cree Of 1852 they are subject TO heavy penalties.
The cabin passengers who were TO sail to-day
from Hsvre for New York on the French Line
steamer La Provence were sent to Cherbourg,
where they embarked on the st. Louis of the
American Line
The French Transatlantic Company has ar
ranged TO forward the steerage passengers OF
La Provence on vessels Of the White Star Line
sailing from southampton.