LABOUR'S WAR AIMS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 301, 18 December 1917, Page 5

LABOUR'S WAR AIMS.

COMLETE DEMOCRATISATION

NO MORE IMPERIALISM.

AND END OF A__ WARFARE,

HIGH COURT Or THE NATIONS.

(Received 8.40 a.m.)

LONDON, December 17.

The Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Union Congress and the executive of the Labour party have formulated a draft statement of labour war aims and peace policy to be submitted to a national conference at Westminster on December 28. The statement says that whatever caused the war the fundamental purpose of the British labour movement in supporting its continuance is that the world may be safe for democracy. The most important war aim is that henceforth there shall be no more war. In order to achieve thiß the movement relies on the complete dcmocratisation of all countries, the frank abandonment of every form of Imperialism, the suppression of secret diplomacy, and the absolute responsibility of the Foreign Minister to the Legislature.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) The manifesto demanfis universal abolition of compulsory military service in all countries, common limitation of armaments and abolition of profit making by arrangement with firms. Further, a super-national authority or league of nations must be established composed of tbe present belligerents while neutrals should also join. All disputes must be submitted to an International High Court, all States to enter into a solemn agreement to make common oause against a State failing to adhere to this agreement. It is impossible to ignore the fact that certain territorial readjustments are required if the renewal of armaments and war is to be avoided. It was a crime that Alsace-Lorraine was forcibly torn from France in 1871. The inhabitants should be allowed to freely decide their political future. The peoples of the Balkans and Poland should also decide their own future, irrespective of Austrian, Turkish and other foreign domination. The Labour movement is in wannest sympathy with the people of Italian blood and speech left outside the kingdom of Italy, but has no sympathy for I the far-reaching aims of conquest of Italian Imperialism. The Labourites hope Jews will be permitted to form a free State in Palestine, while Armenia, Mesopotamia, and Arabia cannot be restored to the tyranny of the Sultan and his pashas. These countries should be placed under a league of nations which should also control Constantinople. The Labour party disclaims sympathy with all Imperialist ideas. German colonies in Tropical Africa should not be booty for any nation, and exploited for capitalists. All the belligerents should abandon dreams of African Empire, and transfer their present colonies to •» league of nations which would form a permanently neutral African State. Cases where sovereignty of' other territories must be transferred, should be the subject of amicable bargaining with an equivalent exchange of money or otherwise. The Labour party declares against economic war after peace. It considers Customs duties should be limited strictly for revenue purposes, the restoration of the devastated areas of France, Belgium, Italy, East Prussia, and Poland, while j Tiussia must provide for her peasantry, i The Labour movement will not be satis- ' fied unless a full and free judicial investiffation be made of all facts of cruelty I and theft for which there is no justifica-' cation in the ordinary usages of war or peace conditions. They should set up a Court o? Accusations which will investigate and award damages.