De Gaulle’s amnesty offer to students

PARIS, May 21. President Charles De Gaulle granted amnesty today to student leaders who touched off the nation’s strike crisis. But the number of workers on strike soared to 8 million and economic chaos was so great that the stock market closed.

Banks shut their doors in the faces of panicky depositors wanting their money and the Paris Bourse announced it would quote no stock issues because “the existing conditions do not permit fixing prices under regular techniques.” The bank closings were largely responsible for the action.

Two million more workers walked off their jobs today, most of them at that instigation of the Communist trade unions. Communist party leaders openly demanded President De Gaulle be replaced — and hoped to do that through a vote of censure, tomorrow. President De Gaulle approved a law giving amnesty to all persons convicted in the Latin quarter rioting that started the upheaval. The move, taken to quell the passions of the rebellious students, came at an emergency cabinet meeting.

President De Gaulle was expected to discuss how to grapple the unprecedented situation and to chart strategy for the parliamentary censure debate. The debate could determine the future of the fifth French Republic.

The President had postponed the Cabinet session. Scuffles broke out in front of the Credit Foncier Bank, when employees opposed to the strike actions tried to get to work but were barred by union leaders.