M. Millerand announced on Tuesday that the General Confeder- ation
of Labour would be prosecuted for violating the law of 1884, which protects Trade Unions in "the study and defence of their economic, commercial, and agricultural interests." As the leaders of the Confederation have been engaged for the past fortnight in ordering strikes in one industry after another by way of making up for the failure of the railway strike of May 1st, they are clearly actuated by revolutionary rather than economic aims. None of their strike orders has been widely obeyed by the trades affected. Nevertheless this little clique of extreme Socialists is creating unrest at a time when French industry specially needs calm. The Government, supported by a large majority of the people at the recent elections, are in a strong position legally and politically. It will rest with the French Courts to say whether the Confederation of Labour has forfeited its right to the protection of the law.
