= 1495 The French Communist youth are beginning to give signs of getting out of hand — at least the hand of Thorez. # This was evident at the Congress held by the UBC (Union des Etudiants Commnistes), an organ isation under the control of the UCCF (Union des Jounes Comministes de France). The UEC has about 4,000 members, the strongest sector being at the Paris umrersity where 1,500 members are listed. The monthly paper of the organisation, Clarte (clarity) has e press run of betwoen 15,000 to 20,000,
Nuances have appeared in the UBC in the past. Some of the leaders , for instance, against the orders of the political bureau of the French CP, participated in the FUA (Front Universitaire Antifasciste) which orga..a-sed some 7,000 students in Paris during the last year of the filgerian wer, Again in the crisis in the politicel burem over the dif ference with Casanovo and Servin (beginning in 1960), a leader of the Ul0 felt the disciplinary ace along with them and other members of the Central Committee, No open revolt occurred. The UEC appeared to be tied tightly to the political apron strings of the Thorez leadership. Rocently the UEC began to display an inclination to scho the views of the Togliatti leader ship in the Italian CP, Leaderships of other CP s tended likewise to be fishing in the French Comminist Youth.
When the UBC leadership decided to hold a Congress at the end of February, the Political Burean sought to hav’ it postponed. ut the proposal was rejected. Preparations for the Congress took place in the defiance of the Thorez leadership. The Thorez tendency received support only in the provincial universities and among older students. In the Paris University and elsewhere, left tendencies appeared, including pro-—Chinesse and pro-—Cuban elements, The differences did not tako clear political form even at the Congress, Minor issues thus tended to receive undue emphasis as substitutes for clear exprassion. in Italian youth representative, for instance made a rather confused speech, veoring from left to right on various points. But his remarks were welcomed by the audience becaise they raised problems which required thoughtful consideration, The delagates applauded the speech warmly finally raising to their feet. The representatives of the Central Committee, among them Roland Leroy, remained ostentatiously seated. After a few mimites the delogates demanded "Debout! Debout!" (Stand up).
The pro—Thorez wing received only about one-third of the votes and the main supporter of the Folitical Eureau was not elected to the National Committee of the UR, Due to the confusion it is not possible to determine exactly the political shadings, tut about 20 % seamed to be inclined to the left. Tho importance of this devolopment among the Commmist Youth of France lies not so mach in any crystallisation of definite political tendencies as much as in the open rebellion against the Thorez leadership. This marke a significant step forward. It is quite possible that the rebellion was overtly encouraged by a sector of the top leadership of the F ench CP itself, and that it is symptomatic of a deeper crisis over the process of desta linisation. [ How the Thorez leadership will react remains to be seen. If it turns to disc iplinary measures, it may provoke further rebollion. Ifn t, tho section of the Student body that got away with it will feel emboldened cnough to start asking the fossilised Thorez leadership somo new, highly embarrasing questions,
At long last, France's Communist youth seem about to begin think= ing for themselves and this bodes no good for Thorez. —— : —