All comrades will have read roports of the massive demonstration on i the occasion of the funeral of the cight victims of DeGaulle's police in Pars held on Tuesday 13th. Reports on the numbors involved vary from one million *> one hundred thousand, but even the most reactionary sources had to admit thai Paris had been brought to a standstill. Svoerything stopped - except the tubos and buses taking people to the funeral, What a resounding answer to those who argue that it is necossary to hide behind DeGaulle to prevent the victory of Fascism! Tho French working class domonstrated that given a firm leadership they thoy could settle accounts with thet gang of cutthroats - the 0.4.5. - with oase. The leadership of the French workers! ofganisations show no sign of giving such a firm lead - the French Commnist Party confines itself to calls for tho ‘unity of tall democrats! and Mollet's 'Socialist' Party is more concerned with tryius avoid united action with the C.P. than fighting reaction.
Blsewhere in France strikes and domonstrations on a mssive scale took places in Clemont Forrand, thore was a total stoppage of all rail and toher transport from 8 a.m. to midday and other strikes took place3 in Marseilles there was a total stoppages; in Lyons, 25,000 demonstrated in the main square and there was a total stoppage of transport and engineering; transport was stopped for four haurs at Nice, Dijon, Carcassonne, Dunkirk (where the docks stopped too, Le Havre, — liontpelicr, Perpignan and 5%. .itiennoe, In all places the demonstrations went off peacefully except at ba Rochelle where the police used tear gas against the demon strators.
We repr-duce herewith a statement by the Intornational Secrotariat of the Fourth International on tho situation in France. This, as well as the following article by T.M., was writton before the big Paris demonstration. Communique from the I.S. of the Fourth Intornational
The International Secretariat of the Fourth International salutes the of the workers, students and intellectuals of France against tho dangsr of tho rebirth of fascism.
We pay homage to the victims of police repression who fell in tho demonstration of the 8th Fobruary, and wo call upon the workers and intellectuals of France to unitedly take part, throughout the country, in the general strike in memory of these victims. However, the blood of these martyrs has not flowed in vain, and thoir sacrifice will be, as that of 12 February 1934, the beginning of a strong mass movement against fascism and against Guallism which favours and protects it.
The International Secretariat appeals to the working masses ond their organisations of France to unite with their Algorian brothers in tho struggle fascism and Gaullisms
to prevent completely the continuation of war operations in Algéria and the transportation of arms and troops;
to help soldicrs to revolt against their fascist officors and to idontify themsolves with the Algerian poople3
to.impose speedy and positive negotiations with tho G.P.R.A. (the provisional Algerian Government) ;
to overthrow the Gaullist regime and impose a government of workers! organisations supported by the united front anti-fascist committees and controlled by them, this alone being the answer to fascism,
The International Secrotariat appeals to all working class organisations BP EEB ne to vigourously support the anti-fascist struggle in France. It asks the World Federation of Trade Unions ond the International Confederation of Free Trade Unionsas well as the trade union centros of Africa, Latin America and Asia to launch an international appeal to sustain and support tho anti-fascist and anti-colonial struggle in France,
9, Fobruary, 1962,
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