The Paris Commune. Friday, March 31, 1871. Today, a manifesto concerning the problem of reorganizing the postal service is being posted on the walls of Paris. The management and employees of the Parisian Post Office have delayed their adherence to the Commune but have essentially remained loyal to the government of Versailles, which from the beginning ordered them not to obey the insurgents. For its part, the Commune, in its disorganization, did not immediately address the problem and did not impose its authority. The postal service in Paris has not been functioning for several days, causing serious harm especially to artisanal, industrial, and commercial businesses that are trying to reorganize after months of blockade due to the Prussian siege. When this manifesto appears today, the director and chief officials have already fled, yesterday, to Versailles, taking with them stamps, equipment, and the cash register's money. The Commune is therefore trying to reorganize the postal service with the help of socialist postmen and officials, both active and retired; partly by persuading and partly by threatening the remaining staff.
