NOVEMBER,1946 includingtherighttovote.Sincetheyformonlyafeeble minority(4among12),theycannoteffectivelyinfluence management.Theyneverthelessfulfilltheimportantroleof holdingadvancedpositionsfortheworking-classorganizations untilthedaywhentherepresentativesofthegovernmentin theboardshouldalsobecomethemandatariesofworkingclassorganizations. Atthedateofwriting(April,1946),itisnotyetpossible toforetellhowradicalwillbetheimpactofthenationaliza- tionscariedoutbytheGouingovernment.Inanycaseits measureswillbemoreradicalthanalltheprecedingones.But itshouldbenotedontheotherhandthattheGouingovernmentuptonowhasnotchangedanythingintheadministra- tionofpreviouslynationalizedenterprises.WhentheCommunistministerofindustrialproduction,MarcelPaul,at- temptedtointroduceintheNortherncoalminescertain changesfavorabletotheworking-classorganizations,calling inCommuniststoreplacecertaindeGauleappointees,the unitedattackoftheSPandtheMRPforcedtheCPtobeat theretreat.Ofcourse,itisnotadesiretoprotecttheinterests ofbigcapitalwhichmadetheSPopposeanincreasedpartici- pationofworking-classorganizationsinmanagement.It wishedonlytoavoidanyreinforcementoftheCommunists' position.Withoutanydoubt,therivalrybetweentheCPand theSPhashamperedtheactionoftheGouingovernmentand madeforthefactthatuntilthemiddleofAprilthenationalizationswerelimitedtogasandelectricityonly.Ontheother hand,bothpartiesdefinitelywantnationalizationstobecontinuedandthisiswhytheyvotedtogetheragainsttherepre- sentativesoftheotherpartiestoprolongtheparliamentarysessioninorderthatparliamentcoulddecidethenationalization ofinsurance,oftheremainingcoal•minesandoftheprivate banks.(Thequestionofthebanksintheendremainedin suspense). THEMASSESMUSTBEWONOVER Itisobviousthattheworking-classorganizationscanonly carryontheirpoliciesiftheydonotlosethesupportofthe mases.TheCP,theSPandtheCGT(GeneralConfederation ofLabor)becamepowerfulorganizationsinthemonthsafter liberation.ButthemassesfolowedtheCommunistandSo- cialistleadersonlybecausetheysawinthemthespokesmenof apolicywhich,aftersomuchmiseryandsuffering,would finalybringthegoodlifeandfreedomfromtheregimentation andcoercionthathadmarkedtheprecedingyears.There existedanunresolvablecontradictionbetweenwhatthemasses expectedandwhatthepoliciesofthepartiescouldofferthem. Fortheleadership,everythingdependedontheirabilitytoconcealthesecontradictions. Buthowcanthepartiessucceedinconvincingthemases thatthemeasuresdecideduponbythePlannedEconomywill eventualyservetheinterestsoftheworkerswhenthese measuresimposeevernewsacrificesuponthem;andthisin spiteoftheirincreasedeforts,inspiteofaperceptiblein- creaseineconomicactivity,andinspiteoftheliberationof thecountryfromaninvaderwhohadpreemptedaconsider- ablepartofthenationalproduct?Andhowcantheyconvince themassesthattheystilldefendworking-classinterests,al- thoughtheyrejectallstrikes,decreeafreezingofwages despitethecontinuedincreaseinprices,demandanextreme BibliotecaGinoBianco 343 accelerationoftherhythmofworkandopposethetraditional calss-strugglepolicies? AlreadyduringtheirundergroundperiodSocialistand Communistleadersrealizedthedifficultieswhichtheirpolicieswouldencounteramongthemasses,buthopedtosur- mountthembyutilizingthefactthattheirpolicieswouldbe directedagainstcapital.Wasn'tthereanoldtraditionalidea firmlyrootedinthemindsoftheworkersthatanyaction againstcapitalwould ipsofacto beoneintheinterestofthe workers?Thoughattheserviceofpolicieswhichareopposed tothedailyandhistoricalinterestsoftheworkers,thena- tionalizationsareameanstotiethemassestothepoliciesof thesepartiesunderthepretextofanti-capitalism.Theparties proclaimthatthenationalizationsare"transitionalmeasures whichwillalowsocietytomoveboldlytowardtheSocialist revolutionwiththehelpofaprogressiveregime." Theideaofnationalizationplaysaprimaryroleinthe propagandaforthe"BatleofProduction"andfortheelectoralcampaign.Benoit-Franchon,generalsecretaryofthe CGTanditsrealleader,toldstrikingminersinLenslast autumn:"Sincethecoalminesarenownationalizedandsince youworknolongerforthetrustsbutforthenation,itisnot onlyyourdutybutalsoyourowninterestnottotolerate strikesandtoincreaseproductionasmuchaspossible."Andin allhispre-electionspeechesthethenministeroffinanceAndré Philipexplainedtothemasses:"Themeasureswhichwehave takencertainlyarenotpopular,thetasksassignedtoyouare heavy,butyounolongerworkforthedynastyofmineownersandforthelordsofbankingandinsurancebutforyour- self,i.e.,forthewholenation."High-placedSocialistcivil sérvantsexpresseditmoresimplyandmorecynicalyduring a'smalmeetingwhichweattended:"Thenationalizations makemanythingsmuchmoreeasilyacceptable." THESOCIALTRANSFORMATION TheVichyversionofaPlannedEconomylefttheelements ofcapitalistsocietybourgeoisieandproletariat-untouched. ThenationalizationsoftheFourthRepublic,however,trans- formonesectionofthebourgeoisiefromindependentcapitalistsintorentiersandanotheronefromholdersofindependent managerialpositions.tostateemployees.Ontheotherhand, thatpartofthebureaucracyofthePlannedEconomywhich owesitsascendancetotheworking-classpartiesandtothe nationalizations(uniondelegatesinmanagingboards,Social- istandCommunistrepresentativesinthevariousplanningand controlboards,etc.)formsanewprivilegedlayerwithquite novelsocialfeaturesverydiferentfromthoseshownbythe Vichybureaucracy.Itdoesnothaveanyconnectionwith capitaleitherdirectlyorindirectlyandislinkedsolelytothe working-classparties.Itthereforehasquiteadifferentideol- ogy."Theparty"istothosementheinviolableauthorityand itspolicyissupremelaw.Theyformthatpartofsociety whichdisplaysgenuineenthusiasmforthenewpowerpolicy, forstructuralreformsandespecialyfornationalizations. Fromtheministertouniondelegatesinfactorycommitees, alreadilysubmittothepolicyofthepartiesandrapidlybe- comealienatedfromthemassoftheworkers.Theyenjoyconsiderableeconomicandsocialprivilegesanddemandfromthe workersastrictdisciplineandmaximumproduction"tothe limitofone'sstrength,"accordingtoCroizat,Communist unionleaderandministeroflaborintheGowngovernment.
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