FRANCE: Hours and Politics

One of the boldest political maneuvers in French history was attempted this week by Premier Edouard Daladier. More than once before the hardheaded, middle-of-the-road Premier has tried unsuccessfully to trade in his coalition (The Popular Front) for a new coalition—to shake off his left-wing allies, the Communists and Socialists, and secure new right-wing al lies in their place. This time he acted swiftly and directly: he slapped his allies in the face. In a pugnacious nationwide broadcast, he announced flatly that the time had come for France to repeal the law which has been the keystone of the Popular Front: the compulsory 40-hour week. Said he:

“The road to safety is work. War rages in Spain and the Far East. In the centre of Europe the great powers review or try out their armed forces. For their soldiers and reservists there is no longer any real limit to the duration of military service.

For their workers there is no real limit to the hours of work. A majority of the countries of the world give an example of intense activity. These facts are a warning to France.

“The forty-hour law must be modified by virtue of national necessity, as well as by reason of the general situation in Eu rope. In no country in the world, except France and Mexico, is it the normal time of work. In no country of the world are factories allowed to go idle for one or two days a week. . . .

“We must put France back to work!” Upon the 40-hour week Premier Daladier then blamed nearly all of France’s financial difficulties, saying it had reduced the production and profits of industry, had thus curtailed the State’s tax revenues, injured the economic power and prestige of France, weakened the franc. Next, he rapped Capital for failing to install modern equipment needed in French factories and demanded that these investments be made now, simultaneously with increased working hours for Labor. Finally he promised to reduce taxation of industry to induce business to get going.

At the hour canny Premier Daladier chose for this extraordinary pronouncement, portly Leon Jouhaux, vigorous French trade union leader, was in the middle of the Atlantic en route to Mexico and the U. S.; Adolf Hitler was parading 1,350,000 armed men in German war games; the French Chamber was in adjournment; and General Franco was publishing his rejection almost in toto of Anglo-French proposals for a settlement in Spain (see p. 75).

To show that he meant every word about the 40-hour week M. Daladier sent Senegalese troops to work as longshoremen on the docks at Marseille. Glistening with sweat, the Senegalese—sharpshooters all—carried backbreaking loads of cabbages, asparagus, oranges, lemons, which for the past month Marseille longshoremen, having worked their 40 hours, have refused to move at night or on Sundays.

In Paris, the Daladier moves at once brought the resignations of Labor Minister Paul Ramadier and Public Works Minister Ludovic Oscar Frossard. These two members of the Union Socialist-Republican Party were promptly replaced by the Premier with two other members of their party, new Labor Minister Charles Pomaret and new Public Works Minister Anatole de Monzie. Speculation at once began: would the Union Socialists read Pomaret and de Monzie out of its ranks for standing with Daladier?

The Socialist Party was in a ferment as Leon Blum tried to decide what line his followers should take. The Communists, who hitherto on instructions from Moscow have supported all measures for strengthening the defenses of anti-Fascist states such as France, were reported in confusion. They were said to be planning a revolt against Daladier which would rupture the Popular Front.