FRANCE'S PERPLEXITIES
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] Snt,—In addition to the points raised by Mr. Gillie in his extremely interesting article on "France's Perplexities" in your issue of September 2nd, there is one further matter vihich deserves some notice if we are to avoid unfairness in judging the position of the French trade unions.
There has been, as Mr. Gillie rightly emphasises, a distinct change of opinion in France, by no means restricted to the famous 200 families, away from the acceptance of the domina- tion. of Trade Union influence over legislation. Mr. Gillie performs, we believe, a highly useful and necessary service in putting this fact before readers in this country. At the same time; it should be pointed out that Trade Union oppo- sition to the extension of the working week may have a more rational basis than the mere refusal of concessions which might appear to show weakness of the C.G.T. (Confederation Generale du Travail). It should not be forgotten that unem- ployment persists in industrial France as much as in Britain. It is true that absolute figures are comparatively low, there being about 400,000 persons now unemployed, but this is among a much smaller industrial population ; it is not always realised that France is still largely an agricultural country. There is now heavy unemployment in most industries other than those directly connected with rearmament. The fall in national income and decreased industrial production may well be due to depressed conditions; especially since the end of last year.
In these circumstances, opposition to an extension of the working week may not be mere obstruction but a means of preventing increasing unemployment. In the case of Britain in 1931-32, when there was a severe fall in national income and a decrease in industrial production, manifestly due to slump conditions, no one would have suggested that tht cause was a decrease in the willingness to work and that the corresponding remedy would be an increase in the length Of the working week: In view of the world-Wide recession since last autumn, we suggest that France may now present a parallel case, even though the slump be much less severe.— We are, Sir, yours, &c., P. T. BAUER.
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