Socialism in France

"Will we ever know," asked France's conservative Le Figaro, "exactly how much [industry] has been nationalized?" The paper -- along with many a French businessman -- was boiling mad over a 235-page government publication which was in the spotlight last week as the government wrestled with the budget. The book showed that in France, socialism has not crept; it has galloped. Since the war, the government's interest in private enterprise has more than doubled (to $937 million). Government holdings now comprise about one-third of the industrial plant.

The nationalization of the French railroads, coal mines, electrical industry and other such giants was an old story. But many Frenchmen were surprised at some other government activities. The book showed that the government manages music halls, theater-ticket agencies, a drugstore, a vineyard. It is the nation's biggest ship owner, banker, printer and publisher, sells most of France's phonograph records, runs most of the gambling houses. In all, by unofficial estimate, the government owns outright 167 companies, has an interest in 67 others. And it loses on some of them. On the railroads alone, the government will rack up a deficit of $137 million this year.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.