Evening star., 1938-11-24

French premier, EdOudrd Ddtd-
dier, faced NTH necessity OF in
creaSing nations armament in
face of aggressive campaign by
German and Italian dictatOrS,
has ordered modification OF 40
hour week, instituted by Peoples
Front government of Leon Blum
tUo years ago. Labor Orgdnisd-
tions haze declared 1Uar ON Dala-
dier, present strike ,Daue giping
expression to that purpose.
By the Associated Press.
PARIS, Nov. 24.-Reserves Of steel
helmeted mobile guards were rushed
from. Central and Southwestern
France today to the north, where
strikers protesting against the Dala-
dier governments labor program
resisted efforts to oust them from
occupied factories.
The government called upon the
Nord Department Prefect to enforce
an order for the election of $4,000
striking metal workers who re-
manned inside their plants.
The first squads of mobile guards
men who marched into factories this
morning found strikers in the De-
main and Valenciennes district re-
luctant to leave. Reserves were
called as disorders broke out in
several industrial districts.
10000 Now on Strike.
The number of strikers rose above
10000 as the movement spread to
the coal mines of Northern France.
About $4,000 coal miners occupied
their pits this morning in SYM
pathy with the metal workers to
protest the government labor pol
icy of increasing work beyond the
4O-hour week and of evacuating oc-
cupied factories by force.
Another 1000 railroad men, who
transport coal from the mines to
canal barges, also joined the move
ment.
The strikes involved the Amin
mine, greatest coal producer in
France, and several other northern
pits.
OF 40 metal plants seized by strik-
ers yesterday. only Is had been
evacuated today, but police were
proceeding methodically in their
campaign, under M. Daladier's S
orders to end the occupation.
The new conflicts heightened
tension aroused by the General
Confederation Of Labor's call for
nationwide mass meetings Satur-
day and 24-hour general strike at
a date to be fixed for next week, in
protest against M. Daladier's recent
decree laws ending the 40-hour work
week and providing new taxes.
Communists and Socialists were
especially angered by the peace
declaration with the Nazi state
Most commentators declared that
Chancellor Hitler acted quickly
dropping demands for gag on the
French press on foreign matters, in
an effort to forestall complete
Franco British military co-opera-
ton.
War veterans organizations, claim
ing 100000 members, are arrayed
against the cabinet, and a large
group of labor unions have called
national demonstrations for Satur-
day.
Members of some veterans and
labor groups said they were holding
back full expression of their fury
against the cabinet out of courtesy
for Premier Chamberlain and the
British foreign secretary, Viscount
Halifax, who 60 home tomorrow.
Anglo-French Alliance Aim.
Mr.. Chamberlain, Halifax, M.
Daladier and French Foreign Min
lister Bonnet carried on their dis
cussions at the foreign office today,
looking toward a virtual outright
military alliance with coordination
of armed forces and airplane and
munitions factories.
The French and British, it was
pointed out. could not forego pre-
cautionary extension of their COL
laboration even though the French
German agreement was a bright
element in the European situation.
The French-German understand
ing parallels the British
anti-war declaration signed at
Munich September 80. Its details
were withheld until formal pact is
signed, probably about December l.
when the German foreign minister,
Joachim Won Ribbentrop, is expected
here.