The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-13
FRANCE TO Be FIRM
.! UELLNG TROUBLE
o. 4--as
Note to Railway Men by Cab
met Met With Expressed
a Defiance.
DISUNIeS IS APPARENT
Serious Disorders Possible,
but Movement Lacks Pub
lie Support.
By q staS Correspondent Of TIE sus.


PARIS, July 1.-THE action OF the
French Cabinet in notifying the railway
workers that If they participated in the
general strike called for July 81 in
France and Italy they would be dealt
with under the military law is accepted
as the determination OF the Government
to handle without gloves a situation
which is causing growing concern
throughout France.
What effect the note OF the Cabinet
will have on tfe railway men remains to
be seen, but II was received with express
sions Of defiance which have been re-
peated at several meetings. The serious
ness of the impending trouble lies in the
fact that lis political manifestations
have been arranged by the partisans of
the principle of direct action and on a
scale never heretofore attempted.
But there Is evidence already of dis
union in the ranks OF the workers. The
backbone of the movement comprises the
railroad men. who propose to stop every
train in France at o'clock in the morn
ing, resuming operations twenty-four
hours later; detailed orders for this have
been issued already. All other unions in
the general confederation have been
ordered to suspend work simultaneously
so as to effect n complete paralysis of
all activities throughout the nation.
Would Dictate Foreign Policy.
Perhaps the most remarkable feature
OF the movement is that 1t Is an effort
by organized labor to dictate what
course the Government shall pursue in
its foreign relations. What Is more. II
is designed as an open expression OF
sy rnpathy with the Russian and Hun
garian Bolshevists. Should II succeed
its effect in encouraging Bolshevism
here and elsewhere may easily be seen.
OF the two avowed objects of the
movement, disapproval OF the treatmen Mt
accorded the Lenine and Bella Kun gov
ernments and a protest against the high
| cost of living, more stress has been
placed in the last few days upon the
latter with view to arousing public
sympathy. but II Is impossible to ignore
the significance of the fact that the
leaders of the movement both in France
and Italy are working in sympathy II
not in close conjunction with the Rus
sian and Hungarian Bolshevist heads
They have been assisted greatly both
here and in Italy by economic condi.
items, which are becoming worse every
day. so far as the poor are concerned.
Unquestionably the situation IL men,
acing. so far as the Government Is con-
cerned. and must be met firmly The
movement either will be a signal failure
because of the action OF the Cabinet and
disunion in the ranks. or It will lead tc
serious disorders, OF which the conse-
quences cannot be foretold now.
Already 1t is having an effect in re-
starting the strike fever. The restau-
rant and hotel workers are beginning a
strike and are threatening Complete
teup on Monday. Bastile Day. unles,
their demands are granted, while the
State employees, their demands still un.
satisfied. have called strike on the
same day as the general walkout Lead.
ers Of the railroad workers admit tina,