The Strikes Though the Belgian strikers have not yet returned
to work, the situation has become considerably easier and an early settlement is expected. M. van Zeeland's Cabinet was threatened with a crisis, owing to the Socialist Ministers' objections to the Minister of the Interior's methods of handling the strikers, and this may have increased M. van Zeeland's anxiety to find an immediate solution. A general return to work is probable, on the basis of the agreement between representatives of trade unions and employers granting the annual holiday, family allowances, freedom of association and reduced hours of work : a decision on the 40-hour week is being postponed. But the example of the French strikes cannot be encouraging to M. van Zeeland. 190,000 men are still on strike, and the strikes have now spread to the great ports of Marseilles, Rouen, Brest and St. Nazaire, where activity ceased on Wed- nesday, though the trouble at Marseilles was soon settled. Undoubtedly the spontaneity of both French and Belgian strikes makes negotiation and control difficult ; the workers are anxious that their demands should be not merely accepted, but carried out at once. But since both M. Blum and M. van Zeeland have shown themselves willing and eager to satisfy the workers, it is to be hoped that they will not be forced into a position where further concessions are demanded and have to be refused.
* *
Previous page
