REBELLION AMONG FRENCH COMMUNIST YOUTH
PARIS -- The conflict between the leaders of the French Communist party _and the Communist youth of the UZC /Union des Etudiants Communistes/ is far from subsiding, It has already been going on for sone years, the Communist students having been responsive, during the war with Algeria to the currents in the colleges that yore coven up an effective ‘struggle for peace and for the victory of the Algerians, while the CF lecdership confined itself to general phrases and expelled members who took up the cause of the Algerian Revolution. In addition the ULC was particularly responsive to the de-Stalinization tendencies . that appeared in the international Communist movement and resented ‘the Thoregz regime which remains closest to the Stalin era,
At the recent congress, the UEC was openly opposed to the CF leadership. When the congress was over, the CP leadership began a systematig campaign against the leadership of the UEC. Day after day, L*flumanite, the daily newspaper of the French Communist party, published Letters from Communist students. In general these represented small groups while the greatest part of the Communist students, notably at the University of Paris, continued to hold their own opinions. This wos likewise the case at a recent assembly of students in Paris. Finally the Political Bureau had one of its members open attack in an article taking up a half page of L'Humanits.
There can be no doubt that the leadership of the Communist party has decided to do everything possible, including breaking up the
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organization of students, to achieve its aims. The leaders are placed in a position of which they never dreamed -- an organization officiall recognized by the CP is in disagreement with the policies and above all the methods of the leadership. 7
It is not possible to forecast how the wRuReton will turn ont, “he students have found support in the French Communist party as well | as in Ci‘s in other countries although this is not publicly displayed. Among the ranks of the workers in the party their audience is weak and cannot be widened because the questions they have put into debate. whil related to the general problems dividing the international Communist movement, are expressed in terms which pass over the heads of the workers. Moreover, while the leaders of the UEC demand discussion. the CP leadership has nothing in mind but to crush them. Finally, the Commun-~ ist students, far from having a precise line, represent different currents that have scarcely crystallized. How could it be otherwise given the conditions in which they seek to disengage themselves from Stalinis
In relation to past crises in the Trench Communist party, it is a considerable development that a Communist organization should be found in opposition to the leadership and able to hold for such a long time. No matter what the immediate outcome of this crisis may be. the Thorez loadership will be wealzened by it.
FREUCH COMMITTEE TORMED TO AID