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THE BATTALION
FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1977
^ Opinion/Commentary/Letters
si French industries face nationalization
By JACQUELINE GRAPIN
PARIS — The prospect that a co
alition of Socialists and Communists
may come to power in France in
early 1978 has already stimulated
discussion here about the possibility
that some French firms, now in pri
vate hands, may be taken over by
the government.
Such a discussion might provoke
outcries of alarm were it being held
in the United States, where the free
enterprise system is deeply
entrenched. But here in France,
the debate is going on in an atmo
sphere of relative equanimity.
One reason for this lack of passion
is that the Socialists and Com
munists, who intend to establish a
common front in the legislative
elections due to take place 15
months from now, are themselves
divided on the issue.
Secondly, the French know from
experience that government take
overs do not automatically spell dis
aster, since many state-owned com
panies have generally been perform
ing efficiently under skilled direc
tors.
A key question being raised,
however, is whether further na
tionalization will reduce the com
petitive factor in France’s business
Slouch
by Jim Earle
HOW COULD HE HAVE RUINED THE COUNTRY,
HE’S ONLY BEEN IN OFFICE ONE DAY?’’
Subscribe to the
DALLAS MORNING NEWS
779-6505 after 5
world, since public corporations
enjoy certain tax and other advan
tages that give them an edge over
private firms.
Another important question
under consideration is whether,
with a leftist government in charge,
state-owned companies will be
permitted to function indepen
dently as profit-making firms — or
whether they will be compelled to
tailor their activities to national
planning policies that may be un
realistic.
Although the likelihood of a leftist
victory is some distance away, talk
of nationalization is currently being
spurred by the scandal implicating
the famous French aircraft firm of
Marcel Dassault, which has come
under investigation for allegedly
bribing high government officials.
The case promises to become
France’s equivalent of the Loc
kheed affair.
It is plausible to expect that Das
sault, whose heirs are engaged in
other lines of work, may turn over
his company to the present conserv
ative government in exchange for
substantial compensation rather
than risk a settlement with a less
sympathetic leftist coalition. But if
this occurs, it could accelerate the
trend toward nationalization.
The Socialists and Communists
have already drawn up a list of ten
broad business groups that they in
tend to nationalize. These include
steel companies, manufacturers of
electrical equipment, and banks
along with two American-owned
firms. International Telephone and
Telegraph and Honeywell-Bull.
The stock exchange values of
most firms in these categories have
been dropping, since their future is
uncertain. Some have been seeking
to circumvent government takeov
ers by diversifying or by cementing
ties with foreign corporations that
operate beyond the reach of French
law.
Partisans of nationalization em
phasize that the public sector in
France represents only 11 per cent
of total business — a lower propor
tion than in Austria, Sweden and
Italy, and about the same as in Brit
ain and The Netherlands. State
ownership here, however, is heavily
concentrated in banking, energy,
telecommunications and transporta
tion as well as in the chemical indus
try.
:do you like meeting people::
:from far away and helping!:
• THEM? SCONA-Student Conference!;
• On National Affairs Has A Deal For';
• You! Sign up to be a SCONA hostt;
•or hostess thru Friday, Jan. 28 in);
•the SCONA Cubicle of the Studentt;
•Programs Office in the MSC for ani;
•interview. Interviews will be heldl*
jMonday, Jan. 31 — Wednesday,,;
jFeb. 2.
These partisans also assert that
the managers of government-run
companies are among the most bril
liant figures in the country, and
they point to such technocrats as
Pierre Dreyfus, who has suc
cessfully directed the state-owned
Renault Automobile Company.
Other examples of efficiency in
the public sector can be seen in the
French National Railways, whose
trains hold the European record for
keeping on schedule, and the
French Electric Company, which is
a model utility.
Critics of nationalization contend,
in contrast, that government-owned
firms are not operated on a sound
basis, since their staffs are treated
like civil servants, with special sal
ary benefits and safeguards against
dismissal. Thus, these critics say,
public companies are not only costly
but they tend to tolerate incompe
tence.
Opponents of the public sector
further argue that the state-owned
companies compete unfairly be
cause they pay lower taxes than pri
vate firms. Moreover, they can bor
row at artificially low interest rates
or float loans which are attractive to
capital markets because of govern
ment guarantees.
It seems to me that nationaliza
tion need not be viewed as cata
strophic — if the government-
owned enterprises are permitted to
operate autonomously, providing ef
fective services to the public and
showing a profit on their investment
while fitting into national planning
policies.
That, however, is a tall order.
The instances of success in the pub
lic sector, such as that of Renault,
have been ones in which the state-
run companies have put efficiency,
profit and service ahead of govern
ment planning.
But the influence of government
planners has caused problems
enough under the present conserva
tive regime here. The other day, for
example. Air France director Pierre
Giraudet openly denounced the
government for what he called “ex
cessive interference” in the man
agement of the company, which is
losing more money than any other
airline in Western Europe.
According to Giraudet, the gov
ernment has leaned on Air France
to maintain uneconomical services
and to use expensive equipment
such as the obsolete Caravelle,
which consumes enormous quan
tities of high-cost fuel.
Ms. Grapin writes on economic
affairs for Le Monde, the Paris
daily.
ATTENTION FOREIGN STUDENTS
There will be a special
SPRING SEMESTER
WELCOME PARTY
for all foreign students and their
families on Tuesday, January 25
at 7 p.m. at the Baptist Student
Center.
201 College Main St.
This will be a special time of fun
and getting acquainted with new
people.
For more information, call
846-7722.
It’s Here!!!
Free University Classes
Registration
Tuesday, January 25 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
2nd Floor - Rudder Tower
Monday Night Classes
Human Sexuality
Intermediate Bridge
Introduction to Planned Parenthood
Bartending
First Aid (Twice Weekly - MW)
Helping the Free U
Hiking and Outdoor Skills
Figure Control
Library Techniques
Tuesday Night Classes
The Czechoslovakian Language (Intermediate)
Social and Recreational Dancing
Jogging
The Czechoslovakian Language (Beginning)
French Winetasting
First Aid (Twice Weekly - TTh)
Powder Puff Mechanics
Wednesday Night Classes
Basic Interior Design
Plants, Etc. . . .
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
The Ancient Art of Ju Jitsu
Self D-tense for Men and Women (WTh)
Yoga
Thursday Night Classes
Folk Dancing
How to Trace Your Family Tree
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
introduction to Planned Parenthood
Frisbee Techniques and Principles
Bicycling: Maintenance and Techniques
Saturday Class
Wild Edible Plants
Nights Unknown
Basic Mechanics
Guitar
There will be a $3.50 registration fee for each class you take . . . but you will get back $3.00 of that If you attend % of the class
meetings. Classes denoted by an * are an exception; these classes charge a non-refundable materials fee, the amount of
which is noted in the Free-U class brochure for each of these classes.
Call 845-1515 for more information
Students are
attending games
Editor:
Vietnam Communj
rule by committee
Paul Arnett’s column in the Jan.
18 Battalion sort of distrubed me. If
there have been only five sellouts at
basketball games in the past two
years, it isn’t because the students
haven’t been there.
I’ve seen every conference game
in that time, and at most the student
section was packed and only the re
served section had any empty seats.
Even Arkansas’ coach Eddie Sutton
was quoted in 1975 as saying A&M
has the class crowd in the confer
ence, maybe the country.
I think it’s great to see somebody
coming out for good of Aggie Spirit
the way Mr. Arnett has, I just wish
it could be directred at areas that
need it more.
—Doug Wright ’77
By PAUL VOGLE
United Press International
BANGKOK, Thailand — Com
munist rule by committee has be
come the way of life in Vietnam, less
than two years after the last U.S.-
backed government in Saigon
folded its tents in surrender.
The committee of 492 members
of the National Assembly last sum
mer appointed the government,
from the president down to deputy
minister for elementary education.
A committee of workers at the
Hoah Thanh lime factory near
Hanoi determined the production
goal for the year, a figure not made
public.
When the Vietnam Workers
party at its congress the week before
Christmas determined goals for the
coming year, party Secretary Le
Duan read the economic committee
report.
Keynote speeches at tin [
bly were read by Truong |
chairman of its standing con ft
The new rule-by-conra I:
encouraging to Vietnam I
Communist neighbors. Tl
cally, it discourages advent, p
hot-blooded leaders on tke
the moment.
Gone are the days
Vietnamese Gen. Van Tiei |
standing on the battlefieli’B
Me Thuot in the spring
could sense the weal®
crumbling morale of th
Vietnamese army, mobilizt k Buc
Battalion
Opinions expressed in The Battalion arc those of the
editor or of the writer of the article and are not neces
sarily those of the University administration or the
Board of Regents. The Battalion is a non-profit, self-
supporting enterprise operated by students as a uni
versity and community newspaper. Editorial policy is
determined by the editor.
LETTERS POLICY
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words
and are subject to being cut to that length or less if
longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit
such letters and does not guarantee to publish any
letter. Each letter must be signed, show the address of
the writer and list a telephone number for verification.
Address correspondence to Letters to the Editor,
The Battalion, Room 216, Reed McDonald Building,
College Station, Texas 77843.
Represented nationally l>> National Educational
Advertising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago
and Los Angeles.
Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester; $33.25
per school year; $35.00 per full year. All subscriptions
subject to 5% sales tax, Advertising rates furnished on
request. Address: 'The Battalion, Room 216, Reed
McDonald Building. College Station, Texas 77843.
United Press International is entitled exclusively to
the use for reproduction of all news dispatches cred
ited to it. Rights of reproduction of all other matter
herein reserved. Second-Class postage paid at College
Station, Texas.
MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congress
Editor Jerry Needham
Managing Editor James Aitkeh
Assignments Editor Rusty Cawley
Features Editor Lisa Junod
News Editor Debby Krenek
Photography Director Kevin Vernier
Sports Editor Paul Arnett
Copy Editor Steve Reis
Reporters . . Carolyn Blosser, Richard Chamberlain,
Debbie Killough, Tammy Long, George Maselli, Paul
McGrath, Carol Meyer, Lynn Rossi, Melinda Shank-
les, John Tynes, Mary Alice Woodhams
Asst. Photo Editors Tracie Nordheim,
Mike Willy
visions virtually without ri |
to Hanoi and sweep to ai
victory in 55 days.
All initiative now comesf
party Central Committee !
by committee is ideal for\!j
inward direction, concenta
the economy, the develoj
agriculture and industrj
march toward socialism.
Any massive expansioniss
automatically ruled out, sid
cause a committee cannot^
>v<
Texa:
vantage of a momentary « 1
along, for example, the Thai |
with Cambodia or Laos, ai |
troops into action.
Prime Minister Tanin!
of Thailand, an arderitH.^ 0
Communist who rose to pol?*" 01 , 1 ;
Mar . U
|place
Fis reti
DANCE
DRINK
PLAY
GAMES
HAVE FUN
ZACHAR1AS
GREENHOUSE
club & game parlor
HAPPY HOUR 4-7
EVERY DAY
1201 HWY. 30
(THE BRIARWOOD APTS.)
lowing last year’s military t#
Thai leaders and people m
too excited about the vieioi
attacks launched on Bail:
Hanoi Radio. He also (low
his interior minister’s wan
Vietnam would invade Thi
February.
The Vietnamese “are
cerned with their internalijr
zation” to be sending ° I
abroad, he said. 6. 5 1 a
Subversion can be exptff ■’ an '
continue. Indeed VietJr 116 0
quently announces thatoi®^ 6 *
major exports is “contributir '
world revolution.”
ilyC
Shasi
nter
still sn
football
Mem
Two Locations
WEE AGGIELAND
College Station 693-9900
ROYAL TOT
Bryan 846-4503
Now enrolling for spring all day care
Private first grade, 5 & 4 yr. old kindergarte
2 & 3 morning a week programs
Bus service for after school children
Ages 2 thru 9 7:30 to 5:30
Serving Bryan-College Station for over
20 years
f* Mr. Battik
The Bent Pizza in Town (Honest)
COME HAVE LUNCH WITH US
Fast lunch, intimate booths, party rooms, draft beer, cozy atmosphere
and old movies.
LUNCHEON SPECIAL MONDAY-FRIDAY
Pizzas-Subs-Spaghetti
with Salad and Coffee or Tea
Luncheon Special Also Available
At Our Pizza-Mat
HAPPY HOUR DRINKS 2-For-l
Monday-Thursday
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY NIGHTS
Call Ahead . . . WeTl Have it Ready
846-4809
FOR ORDERS TO GO 5 P.M. TILL-?
VISIT THE PIZZA-MAT 846-4890
IN UNIVERSITY SQUARE
JSpfnan
Eddie Doming
Joe Arcinie§:
Greg Pri<*
If you want the real
thing, not frozen or
canned We call II
“Mexican Food
Supreme.’'
Dallas location:
3071 Northwest Hwy
952-8570
For Battalion Classt
Call 845-2611
Br
tio
po