Evening star., 1947-11-26
19 Russians Ousted by France
For Labor Crisis Interference;
Police Battle Strikers in Lyon
Tear Cos Is Used in
Breaking Up March
By Demonstrators
Ry the Assoeioted Press

PARIS, Nov. 26.-The Ministry
of the Interior announced today
the expulsion from France of 19
Russians for interference in
French affairs" during the cur
rent labor crisis, which erupted
in new violence as police and
strikers battled in the streets
OF Lyon.
The announcement identified the
Russians as members of the Soviet
Patriotic Union" and said they in
cluded the president, the treasurer
and two secretaries-ge of the
organization.
The 19 were taken by bus to an
unstated frontier and put across the
border, the ministry said.
In Lyon police used tear gas to
break up strikers march on the
prefecture after a mass labor rally
called by the Communist-domina
General Confederation of Labor
(CGT).
Strives to End Strikes.
National security police inspec-
tors swooped down on the homes OF
the Russians yesterday morning and
a few hours later drove them by
bus to an unannounced destination
believed to be the Soviet zone OF
Germany.
The action came as the new gov
ernment strove to end the spread
ing strikes in France.
Eugene Thomas, Secretary OF
State for communications, said the
Communists have Launched a vio-
lent offensive" to force Paris postal
employees to strike He said Com.
munist elements are using intimida
tion and menace and trying tc
create an atmosphere of terror"
The Interior Ministry said the
four expelled officers of the Soviet
Patriotic Union were President
Katchva. Treasurer Krivochine and
Secretaries General Dmitri Kobalev
and Alexander Palevov. The an
nouncement said most of the group
formerly were White Russians who
became Soviet citizens after France
was liberated.
A Paris newspaper reported that
inquiries at Offices Of the Patriotic
Union elected this reply: Our
president Is away on trip. We
know nothing about any arrests"
Follows Raid on Camps.
The order came a few days after
police raided Russian repatriation
camp outside Paris, seized small
quantity of arms and removed a
woman and her three children.
Interior Minister Jules Moch an
nounced that the government would
ask the National Assembly within a
week to draw up law regulating
the right to strike.
A cabinet communique said the
ministers had decided on the offer
the government will make to the
labor confederation to end the
strikes.
Mr.. Moch said the decisions of the
government would give substantial
satisfaction to the Legitimate de.
sires of Frances poorest paid work.
ers.' He did not go into detail.
Premier Robert Schuman ar.
ranged to speak to the nation by ra.
dio tonight on the decisions.
Several Reported Hurt.
In Lyon several persons were re.
ported injured in fighting, which
broke out between police and thu
demonstrators. Eye-witnesses esti
mated the number of strikers par.
ticipating in the demonstration a
approximately 10000.
The trouble began when striker
attending the labor rally decided
to march to the prefecture and pre-
sent their grievances. They foune
approaches to the prefecture blocked
by police barricades and attempted
to charge police with Communis
banners flying in the van, Lyon dis
patches said.
The strikers retired when police
fired into the crowd with tear gas
but a second melee broke out q
minutes later when a score of police.
men going off duty tried to march
through the center of the demon
StratorS.
Several policemen were reported
beaten up in this struggle.
The prefect finally agreed to SEA
q delegation of the strikers thi
afternoon.
Trains Still Moving.
In Paris, meanwhile, additiona
mobile guards and police were
thrown around railway stations a!
trains continued to move on some
lines in defiance of a general strik.
called by the National Federation o