Evening star., 1948-09-26
40 Injured in Paris
As Communists Battle
De Gau|Ie Followers
By the Associated Press

PARIS, Sept. Is. Commu-
nists and rightist followers of
Gen. Charles de Gaulle tangled
in fist fights tonight while
Premier Henri Queuille broad
cast an appeal against strikes
periling his wobbly cabinet. At
least 40 were injured.
The premier asked workers to
stay on jobs despite their distress
over wages and high prices. Com
munist labor leaders had just called
for more strikes to enforce demands
for wage increases of 36 per cent
and, eventually, a new government.
Communists broke into a hall
where Gen. de Gaulle's French Peo-
piles Party scheduled meeting with
Jacques Soustelle, leading De
Gaullist, as speaker. They wrecked
the hall so thoroughly that the
meeting was cancelled. Several
Communists and De Gaullists were
injured and 1000 police went to the
scene to restore order.
The pitched battle between Com
munists and De Gaullists began
when the former broke into a meet
ing hall where Jacques Soustelle, a
leading De Gaulle aide, was to speak.
They fought the rightists with
broken bottles, smashed furniture,
fists, wooden club and iron bars.
Nearly 1000 police came to restore
order and chase the Communists.
The meeting proceeded among the
wreckage while ambulances took
away about 10 of the most badly
hurt.
Mr.. Queuille said "all stoppage Of
production can have dangerous re-
suits and lead to unemployment "
He asked workers not to bow to
the Communist campaign against
his government.
Communist labor leaders pursued
the opposite course.
They threatened to tie up the coal
mines in an unlimited general
strike October 4. They said they
already had 100,0O0 men on strike in
various industries throughout the
nation. In addition a 24-hour util-
ity strike throughout the country
was threatened for October l.
Scorning the IS per cent wage in
creases granted by Mr.. Queuille, the
Communicated General Confedera-
ton of Labor asked for 36 per cent.
The Communist leaders also is
sued communique charging the
governments wage increase was a
screen to mask new price increases
and was "a policy of cannibals."
Survived Election Fight.
The increased labor pressure came
just after Mr.. Queuille had man
aged to survive bitter legislative
quarrel over when to hold local elec-
tions. The National Assembly voted
299 to 274 to postpone the elections
from next month until next March,
thus apparently ending the COM
plex series of actions in which the
assembly repeatedly reversed itself.
Then the Assembly voted to go
on vacation tomorrow for month.
That was to the liking of Mr.
Queuille, who thus is given breath
ing spell of at least a month to
consolidate his two weeks-old gov
ernment.
Nom Communist unions also were
dissatisfied with Mr.. Queuille's wage
and price program. but they were
less violent about it and were not
trying to bring about the fall Of
the government.
New Government Asked.
The General Confederation of
Labor, however, coupled its wage
demands with a plea for new gov
ernment that would include Com
muniSts.
The Christian Union Federation
also termed the IS per cent wage
increase insufficient to cover recent
increases in food and other prices.
1t did not call for strike action,
however.
The final decision to defer the
elections until March came on
Communist motion to schedule the
election for October. De Gaullists
voted with the Communists because
they believe they would win sweep
ing successes If elections were held
now.