On Tuesday a demand was made in the French Chamber
for the reinstatement of the railway servants dismissed by the various companies during the recent strike. M. Briand explained that the strike had been declared at the very moment when the Government of its own accord was trying to arrange with the companies for the mitigation of the admitted grievances of the men. He had already pledged himself to inquire into all cases where there was an allegation of unfair dismissal, and he was urging the companies to scrutinise the case of each man in a spirit—to quote the Times—of "large-minded justice." No man had been dis- missed because he had struck or was a member of a Trade- Union, but only because of acts of violence. The State could not intervene further than it was doing. It could not compel private companies to take back offending employees if they did not wish to do so, and, above all, it could not overlook the insubordination of those who, when they were called out as Reservists, defiantly sent back their summonses to the Minister for War. If the Government could not govern without yield- ing to anarchy, it would resign. M. Briand gained a vote of confidence by 354 votes to 106.
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