Confidential
*(Classification)*
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
INR BRIEFING NOTE
GIST: FRANCE: Renewed Outbreak of Major Student Violence
in Paris and Elsewhere
TO:
DATE: 6-12-68
TIME: Reg Morning
COMMENTS CONTAINED IN INR BRIEFING
NOTES ARE INITIAL AND TENTATIVE.
SOURCE(S)
Reuters 6-12
Times
Post
CLASS./CONTROL(S)
Unclassified
Student rioting in Paris appears to have achieved a new
pitch of violence according to press accounts this morning.
Last night violence followed in the wake of two deaths
yesterday—a student drowned in Seine while trying to
evade police questioning and a worker was shot in a clash
with riot police outside a Citroen assembly plant at
Sochaux.
Highlights of latest development:
Communist CGT and later the CFT and FO trade union federations
issued a call for a one-hour work stoppage today in response
to the death of the Citroen worker yesterday.
Communist CGT refused to respond to call by student organization
to join in yesterday's demonstration. However the Catholic
CFT did issue a statement officially supporting the students.
Reports of last night riots indicate increasing professionalization of student violence e.g. use of the long pointed poles
to punch holes in auto gas tanks to obtain the ingredients
for molotov cocktails, the construction of more elaborate
barricades, the first widescale systematic use of molotov
cocktails. Times account notes the emergence of a city
guerilla fighter replete with unofficial uniform of
motorcycle helmet, heavy gloves, armed with iron pipe and
construction bolts, pockets stuffed with lemon-soaked cotton
for treatment of tear gasburns with a surgical mask around
the neck. Student tactics are to defend each barricade until
last minute then set it afire to hold off police charge, then
retreat to next barricade etc.
Interior Minister today announced that all demonstrations
in Paris are banned until further notice. More decisions
expected from cabinet meeting today.
INR Comment: It is not clear what effect the total ban on demonstrations will have.
It could presumably be implemented in such a way as to permit riot police to
break up gatherings of individuals even as they begin to congregate. In any case
it can be doubted that students are in any mood to heed any mere verbal ban on
demonstrations.
On the strike front the principal holdouts yesterday were auto workers,
some craft workers, Paris Taxis, seamen and longshoremen. However some of these are
reported to have settled and to be returning to work today.
INR OFFICE
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