BRITISH LABOUR UNREST

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26220, 18 September 1950, Page 7

BRITISH LABOUR UNREST

Mr Isaacs Accuses Communists

LONDON, September 15. The Minister of Labour (Mr George Isaacs) told the House of Commons to-day that Communists were planning to cause serious industrial unrest in Britain. “Meetings are being held this week-end with Only one object—to disorganise our essential services,” hie said. “Among the leaders of the plot are men who have just returned from a Cominform meeting in Warsaw. The Government is keeping a close watch on all these activities, and will not hesitate to take all the necessary action.” •Mr Isaacs said there was evidence oi an organisation to plan labour unrest being created chiefly by men prominent in previous unofficial strikes. They included some expelled from their trade unions for anti-union activities.

Mr Isaacs linked the present London “wild-cat” bus strike with Communist activities. “It is significant that Communist agitators who have been expelled from office in the union appear to be taking the lead in this strike, which is following a familiar pattern,” he added.

The Deputy-Leader of the Opposition (Mr Anthony Eden) described the Minister’s statement as “one of the gravest which has been made to us in Parliament in recent years in peace time.” Scotland Yard’s Preparations Special Branch officers at Scotland Yard said to-night that within 24 hours they could put into action a prepared organisation to roufid up the Communist troublemakers in British industry who were denounced in Parliament by Mr Isaacs. The officers said that dossiers of suspected agitators in the waterfront, transport, and food distribution industries had been prepared by special agents in recent months. British trade union leaders believe that the disruption campaign is part of a plan devised by the Communistled World Federation of Trade Unions •to disrupt all Western Europe’s ports and industrial areas.

The Cabinet, at its meeting yesterday, is believed to have had full reports on this strike conspiracy in Britain. There is to be another Cabinet meeting on Monday. The Attorney-General (Sir Hartley Shawcross) has been asked to attend several recent Cabinet meetings, and may have been eonsulted on measures to be taken against the fomenters of strikes. If these are felt to be insufficient, further legislation may be rushed through Parliament. Another course would be the declaration of a state of emergency, which carries with it exceptional powers to deal with strike developments.