19 MARCH 1937, Page 2

The Paris Riots The riot which broke out at Clichy,

an industrial suburb of Paris, on Tuesday night gives some indication of the passions aroused in the Paris workers by Fascism in France. The Patti Social Francais, which is the illegal Croix de Feu under another name, had taken a cinema in which to hold a meeting. This legitimate exercise of the right of free speech appears to have been taken as an act of provocation. The cinema was attacked by 5,000 anti-Fascists, who were driven back by gardes mobiles, mounted Republican guards, and Colonel de la Roque's own supporters. In the riot five men were killed and over 200 injured, including the Mayor of Clichy and M. Blume', private secretary to M. Blum. The volume of the casualties is sufficient evidence of the violence of the riot, which shows how easily the progress of M. Blum's government may be disturbed by spontaneous outbreaks of this kind. The prolonged Cabinet meeting on Wednesday shows that the Government is conscious of that, and the protest strikes called for Thursday show that it has reason to b

* *