TWO DISPATCHES FROM EUROPE
Two Dispatches From Europe From Poland By Liston M, Oak Special New Leader Correspondent in Poland. , IODZ, January 20 (By Cable).—In this busy in. dustrial city, which in sharp contrast to...
...In agreement with the (General Federation of Labor (CGT) he fixed thy normal work-week at 48 hours—though the legal week remains 40 hours...
...He has moved in the direction of stepping up production...
...But still the chairman of the Bund, Fogel, asked me whether the elections weren't tire very model of democracy...
...Our group of four American observers witnessed no violence...
...Castigated Churchill, Byrnes and British labor leaders who "extended hospitality to Schumacher" 4s forces of reaction in*ieague with Mikolajcyzk, conciliatory toward Germans, thus endangering Poland...
...Their goods are confiscated and sold...
...who hold out are followed up by the economic police...
...His departure from the helm is regretted by all, and if it were possible to have a plebiscite, a great majority of the people would vote for a continuation of the one-party regime of this man...
...Blum has restored energy and...
...Thus Leon Blum has become the most popular man in France...
...Even the more publicspirited manufacturers and merchants support it in the hope that it will accomplish something in the direction of the stabilization of wages and prices...
...Declared Government sow has power to liquidate underground and will move ruthlessly against illegal opposition...
...IODZ, January 20 (By Cable).—In this busy in. dustrial city, which in sharp contrast to Warsaw ia almost undamaged by war, red and white banners were flying in yesterday's election, urging the Polish populace to vote for the "democratic bloc" of "Socialist" and Communist parties...
...All the economic strata of the country are called upon to collaborate with the government...
...Britain took our gold and gave us Mikolajcyzk...
...A further reduction of 5 percent was announced for the lust of March...
...Berman stated that James Byrnes' Stuttgart speech referring to Poland's western frontiers contributed to the defeat because "Mikolajczyk looks to the USA for support...
...On the black market the franc has risen 40 percent in relation to the dollar...
...He insisted that the Polish Communists were different from and not subservient to Russian Communists...
...Market committees are being set up consisting of workers, proprietors, consumers and government officials...
...Trucks toured the streets with huge signs—"Mikolajczyk's Last Sunday...
...The discount rates have been lowered and differentiated...
...Thus in ten days l.eon Blum reversed the situation and stopped the run-away prices which were rushing Frame toward financial catastrophe...
...Poles fed up with fighting, continued Berman, crisis in underground revealed by current trials with all except bandits anxious to return to normal life, also crisis in PSL with opposition to Mikolajczyk plowing because he seeks power and has made many mistakes, including aid to underground...
...By an authoritarian oovtmt prepared in secrecy, Blum ordered on the night of December 31, that January I I should begin with a general lowering of prices...
...Their establishments are closed for shorter or longer period...
...He has done much to restore the prestige of the Socialist Party, despite the beating which it took in the last election...
...Next he broke the vicious circle which kept prices and wages In their mad inflationary race...
...The effect was immediate...
...At the time of the elevation of Leon Blum, France could see no way out of her difficulties, and the military dictatorship of General de Gaulle stalked the horizon...
...Chosen as Prime Minister and head of the state on December 12, after the failure to set up a four-party regime, he managed to set up a government on the 16th...
...Stocks of goods came forth from their hiding-places, and prices continued to fall of their own momentum...
...UNDER EXPOSED HATS off aad hail to that stoat lad Was failed to take the chance bo bed— From having owe exchanged belle's (A friend, of coarse, or os-oad-Ws)— Te write • tomtits »e*»otr Entitled "Me sot WML* Richard Armeer...
...Berman boasted that we now have sufficient strength to cut connection between underground and warmongers abroad...
...During this time a miracle was wrought...
...there was to be a reduction of 5 percent...
...Consumers support the movement with all their power...
...The psychological shock produced a mild form of panic among merchants and manufacturers...
...Votes for PSL declined from 32 percent in the July referendum to about 10 percent in January," he said, "representing the complete failure of the boycott urged by Mikolyajczyk...
...Liston M. Oak, managing editor of The New Leader, is currently reporting from Poland...
...Within a month this minority government did more to pull France out of the swamp in which it was bogged than all the other regimes since the liberation...
...association, etc...
...Thus a cabinet made up of members of a minority party conducted the affairs of France up to the election of the President'of the Fourth Republic...
...He set going a downward price movement which became general...
...The banners were flying, but for every poster or float of the Labor Party, there were thousands of competing pieces in behalf of the Government...
...On a descending market, sellers feared to hold their merchandise...
...also that the Peasant Party was "the agency of black reaction and of Anglo-American imperialism...
...They want to see whether the products of industry actually go down before they consent to a reduction in the prices of the foods which they have to sell...
...But the thing has become so general, the psychological sweep of the movement so powerful, that the campaign in favor of it is at last beginning to take effect even among the agricultural producers...
...He restored confidence in the franc...
...Voters sullenly did their prescribed duty...
...He instituted measures to bring to France foreign workers, chiefly Italians, to supplement the depicted ranks of labor...
...There are prospects of even greater decreases...
...He Ills shown the country llist it can save itself...
...First of all, Leon Blum took measures which will permit his successor to balance the budget...
...The regimented voters of Poland lined up in long queues to cast their ballots...
...Every polling place was packed with militia...
...In this city of Lodz the Peasant Party of Vice-Premier Stanislaw Mikolajczyk was outlawed because one candidate allegedly was a Gestapo agent...
...Now no one doubts the success of the great "Blum experiment...
...Today the danger is past...
...The most obvious fact about the whole procedure was the ease with which any of the results could be falsified "if necessary...
...And all groups hare responded eagerly to the appeal of Leon Blum—including labor unions (both of the CGT and of the Catholic federation), employers organizations, chambers of commerce, farmers organisations, consumers coopcrstives, merchant...
...Herman, UnderSecretary of State, in a press conference today gloated over the fact that the Government bloc won over 85 percent of seats in Parliament, overwhelmingly defeating the Peasant Party even in its stronghold...
...He took steps for the immediate introduction of Jean Monnrt's four-year plan for the reconstruction of French industry, If one -compares the situation in France as of the 12th of December with that of lodsy, the difference is striking...
...Wage-workers welcome it with enthusiasm, for they have long since come to realize that under the old conditions raising wages meant nothing more than a corresponding jump in prices...
...The whole country recognizes his wisdom, his firmness and his adaptability...
...Berman said, probably PSL will be excluded from new Government, but other opposition parties will be included, "thus giving appearance of coalition Government...
...MEANS are being created for the investigation of inventories...
...Berman implied that if PSL continued present course it is doomed and clemency will be extended to all zepeatants...
...The rare exception...
...It was a funeral atmosphere...
...enterprise lo democracy and to the republican regime, A month ago the French economic and financial situation seemed hopeless...
...Today France is reborn, and a new spirit animates all minds.and .hearts...
...Upon his return, he will write s series of Aral-hand, eye-witness articles on conditions in Poland.] From Paris By Oreste Rosenfeld Former F.dilor-in-Chief of "Le Populaire" PARIS, January 20.—The brief existence of the one-party government of Leon Blum has come to an cud...
...Banners still hang over Polish cities reading: "Mikolajcyzk will take away your land and cow, vote for democratic bloc and against Anglo-American iearmament of Germany...
...The nationalized banks no longer grant credits to manufacturers or merchants who stockpile their, merchandise...
...On Jan...
...At the same time Blum lias taken action with regard to the other basic factor lending toward inflation...
...Banking measures are now being taken to supplement the previous economic and social steps...
...Another sign read: "The Entire Textile Industry Will Vote for List 3." Prior to the elections, most of the "Workers here had been required to sign a pledge to vote for List 3. The warning had been made qu"ite explicit that failure to do so would bring reprisals...
...The slips of paper carried in their hands were marked either "2" or "3"—"3" signified ' the Communist-Socialist Government bloc, "2" designated the pseudo-Catholic Labor Party...
...Public opinion received these events, first with a mixture of surprise and suspicion, then with sympathetic curiosity and, finally, with pleasure and enthusiasm...
...In certain areas, prices have already tumbled as much as 10 or 15 percent...
...WARSAW, January 21...
...He implied that the defeat of PSL is a defeat of American policy...
...Nor did we see the slightest enthusiasm anywhere...
...Only the farmers continue to be skeptical about this development...
Vol. 30 • January 1947 • No. 4
