Evening star., 1947-12-06
Drastic French
Labor Law 10 Be
Signed Today
Council of Republic
Approves Bill in
TumuItuous Session
By the Associated Press

tuOuS 2l-hOur session, the upper
Chamber of the French Legisla-
ture approved Premier Robert
Schuman's drastic new anti
strike, anti-sabotage law today,
217 to 80.
The bill, which heavily increases
the punishments for sabotage and
sets up penalties for persons in
citing strikes or keeping them going,
was approved by the National As
sembly. the lower chamber, Thurs
day morning.
It now goes to President Vincent
Auriol tor signature and is expected
to become effective today or tomor-
row. The measure was demanded
by the Schuman cabinet to guar
antee non strikers the right to work
without interference, to suppress
sabotage and to allow the state to
use force in accomplishing these
purposes.
Revision Request Rejected.
The French press agency earlier
today quoted Mr.. Schuman as say
ing Mr.. Auriol had already refused
a demand by the Communicated
General Confederation of Labor
(CGT that the bill be sent back
to the Assembly for revision.
Although the bill was the center OF
a hot legislative fight in both cham
bers, the government for several
days has been making use of virtu-
ally the same powers given it by the
measure and to all extents and pur-
poses it is in effect now in the
struggle to break Communistren-
gineered strikes which have ldled
more than 100000 men.
The government announced in the
Assembly last night that police had
been empowered to use firearms in
defending themselves against mobs,
if necessary.
The all-day and all-night session
of the upper chamber, the Council
of the Republic, was the longest IN
it's short history. The proceedings
were blocked time after time by the
delaying tactics of Communist mem
bers, who cast the only votes against
the bill.
Thousands Injured or Arrested.
The labor crisis appeared to be at
the showdown stage, with police dl-
rected to use firearms If necessary
and strikers under orders on their
Communist leadership to hold firm
for the last quarter hour that Will
decide the victory"
The three-week-l wave OF
strikes, violence and sabotage
reaching a virtual state Of anarchy !
at a few points-already has cost
more than a score of lives and un-
counted millions of dollars in prop
erty damage and lost production.
Thousands have been injured or ar
rested. /
One official source yesterday listed
as some of the material costs OF the
Communist -instigated work stop
pages:
Two million tons of coal, 100000
tons of iron ore, 10000 tons OF pig
iron, 175,OOO tons of steel, 100000
tons of finished steel products, 9O
per cent of months rubber pro-
duction and 40 per cent OF the auto
mobile production for month.
A communique Of the CGT re-
peated demands for a guarantee
of the buying power of the minimum
wage" This, the CGT said pre-
viously. meant monthly minimum
wage of 10000 francs or $91 at the
overhauled official exchange rate.
That is ST more than the Govern
ment is offering and $40 more than
the present minimum.
The CGT said it never refused
to resume discussions with the gov
ernment under new conditions CIV
ing a minimum chance of agree
ment.
Refused to Return Bill.
Benoit Frachon, Communist Sec
retary general of CGT, said the
labor organization had asked Mr..
Auriol to create more favorable
climate for negotiations" by soft
pedaling application of the recently
passed drastic antistrike law.
He refused to say what Mr.
Auriol's response was, but the
French press agency quoted Mr..
Schuman as saying the President
had refused to return the bill to
the National Assembly for further
consideration as requestd by CGT.
The governments decision to order
o