The French Premier, Mr. Pompidou, to-day [June 3, Paris] appealed to France’s millions of strikers for a “quick and massive” return to work – but strike negotiations were deadlocked in key industries and rank-and-file strikers in some sectors were hardening their demands. In a Press conference, broadcast on a nation-wide radio-T.V. hook-up, the Premier declared that the back-to-work movement was spreading. He also reiterated President de Gaulle’s warning that “totalitarian Communists” in France threatened “the Republic and our freedoms”. In some branches, agreements had been reached and work will resume. In others, negotiations were stalled or were near break down. In a few important sectors, such as the big strike-bound motor car plants around Paris no real negotiations were underway at all. The France-Soir said “six million strikers will vote on Tuesday for or against a return to work”. An opinion poll carried out among Parisians by the French Public Opinion Institute has shown that 75 per cent backed President de Gaulle’s decision to dissolve the National Assembly and hold new elections. The poll result, published in the newspaper, France-Soir, revealed substantial support for President de Gaulle’s handling of the crisis.
