The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-11-08
The Crisis in France

MET with a severe governmental crisis
WI in its attempts to force through fas-
cist measures within the shell of capitalist
democracy, the Doumergue government is
now preparing to utilize its armed forces
and its sympathetic fascist bands against the
French workers.
The French parliament is now in session, with
DoumergJe insisting that under the guise C f.
nance measure his National Union cabinet be given
a vote Of confidence so that it can proceed to in
augurate dictatorial measures. Torn between It's
close ties with Doumergue, on the one hand, and
the disconnected middle class on the other, the
Radical Socialist cabinet members, led by Herriot
are compelled to submit their resignation
Observing the difficulties he has in ramming
through his fascist measures within the spheres OF
parliament, Doumergue is provoking the armed fas-
cist bands to action against the workers He is pre-
pairing another bloody February clash.
Thursday the vote Of confidence which would
mean vote for the fascist measures comes up.
Already the Partisan capitalist press has opened
bonbsrdment Of threats of civil war, has insti-
gated the is armed fascist bands to prepare On
Saturday, the war vets under fascist leadership
have scheduled monster demonstration that may
set of rioting or civil war.
This is how the capitalists seek to drive through
their fascist measures, on the one hand through
parliament, on the other through outside pressure
Of their fascist gangs.
THE danger against the working class is extremely
great; and the united front of the Socialist and
Communist Parties of France, recognizing the fas-
cist moves confronting them, are tightening their
ranks calling on the workers to be prepared for the
greatest battles More than that "LHumanite,"
organ of the Communist Party of France, is calling
on all middle class forces opposed to fascsm to join
the united front to smash the dangerous rising
wave of fascist threats.
Doumergue, faced with a growing crisis of
French capitalism, fearing the rising strength Of
the united front is determined to put his fas
cist measures cost what may in bloodshed. There
are Is separate fascist groups in France, such as
the Junesse Patriotes Croix de Ecu, Action Fran
caise, Boosting over 10000 men, well supplied with
arms by the bankers, the electric trust and the es
tate Of the deceased perfumer, Cote.
The Communist and Socialist Parties are de-
handing that these fascist bands be disarmed and
disbanded The Doumergue government refuses, re
plying that the revolutionary workers are armed.
The fact is that the fascist bands have been armed
by leading officials in the War Department, with
the support Of the Doumergue government. The
workers have been refused arms every OBSTACLE be-
ing put in the way of their armng to defend them
selves against the open provocaton OF the govern
ment to civil war.
The greatest class battles loom in France The
forces of the proetariat have knit their ranks in
united front. We should learn from them, We can
not wait here until the fascist bands organized
and armed or until the Roosevelt regime with its
great popular vote speeds its fascist attacks against
the workers.
The united front should be formed now, for
strengthening our international solidarity in the
fight against war and fascism, and for battling
against the enemy at home.