This was exactly what he set out to do. Speaking
amid a continuous uproar—some of the Deputies stood up and made menacing gestures at him at intervals—he declared, according to the Times report, that the Government had been con- fronted with an anarchical conspiracy designed to ruin the country by organised destruction. It was untrue that he had refused to listen to the railwaymen's demands ; negotiations were going on, and he had promised to try to bring about all the men desired, when the strike broke out without the least warning. The Government had in their possession the proofs of criminality,—signed orders for malicious destruc- tion, and the signed confessions of men who had taken part in this sabotage. They had also evidence of the existence of an organisation de combat. Crimes had been committed in the name of liberty. This was not liberty, but "the hideous figure of license." Those who took part in such movements had one foot in slavery. The Government were determined at all costs to let the workers know to what kind of con- spiracy they were unwittingly lending themselves. When M. Briand ended he was cheered for several minutes by nearly the whole Chamber. On Thursday the debate was continued, when M. Millerand virtnally repeated the arguments of M. Briand. H, Viviani has announced that he intends to
resign. Apparently he is unable to accept the principle of a scheme for making railway strikes illegal which M. Briand has foreshadowed.
Previous page
