TRADE UNIONS IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26205, 31 August 1950, Page 7

TRADE UNIONS IN BRITAIN

SUPPORT FOR U.N. IN KOREA REFERENCE TO BURDEN OF REARMAMENT LONDON, August 29. In a supplementary report on the international situation to be presented at its congress at Brighton next week, the General Council of the Trades Union Congress emphasises that the acceptance by Britain of the responsibility of giving full and effective support to the United Nations in Korea carries with it the obligation to provide adequate forces to sustain the United Nations’ hetion. The report adds: “The projected Spending of £3,400,000,000 to meet the growing danger of war is conditional upon adequate financial and other assistance from the United States, but it will Inevitably impose a further burden upon the nation.” The report was issued after discussions between the T.U.C. leaders and Cabinet Ministers on industrial, social, and financial isSues involved in rearmament.

The report says that the council will use and seek .to extend the jpint consultation machinery on all questions of policy arising in the crisis, and it gives an Undertaking that the trade union movement will again strive to ensure that a steady rise in productivity Will be maintained and the burden thus lightened. In a review of the origin of the Korean conflict the T.U.C. states that it can see no alternative to the decision taken by the Security Council. “Had Soviet Russia been sincerely resolved .to work with other nations to keep the peace, its influence with the authorities in North Korea would hav e b een decisive in restraining the attack on South Korea.” says the report. “The refusal of Soviet Russia to use its influence in this way is ih direct contradiction to the aimfe professed by the propaganda it has instigated m all parts of the World.”