BRITISH LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 87, 9 October 1935, Page 13

BRITISH LABOUR

CONDEMNS MUSSOLINI

READY TO FACE WAR

The Trades Union Congress at Margate on September 5 carried a resolution from the General Council condemning those Governments which had refused to use effectively the machinery of the League of Nations in the settlement of international disputes (says .the "Daily Telegraph").

The voting on a card vote was 2,962,000 to 177,000. " '. .

The resolution, recorded a conviction] that the existence of Fascist dictatorships in. Italy and Germany had fomented national antagonism which! gravely imperilled the peace o£ the i world, and declared a determination to take all appropriate action to make the League system a reality. Sir Walter Citrine, general secretary Of the Congress, opened the discussion. He explained that,.in addition to considering the resolution, the Congress would, at the same time, have before it the declaration of policy on the Italo-Abyssinian crisis, drafted by the General Council and the Labour Party. .There was an amendment to the resolution standing in the name of the National Union of Clerks, but he sincerely hoped that this would be withdrawn. There should not be the slightest dubiety as to where British labour stood on. this grave issue. "We recognise that there'is a price to pay for peace, and that it may entail taking deliberate and definite action against a breaker of the peace," continued Sir Walter. "The word 'sanctions' means penalties and punishments." •On the question of financial sanctions, he contended that sustained war was impossible if these were imposed. "Fascism, is on the warpath," said Sir Walter. "It Is doing that which has been clearly predicted it must do if it is to maintain its power. BOUND BY PLEDGES. "Both Italy and Abyssinia are bound by the pledges of the League and the Covenant to settle their differences by peaceful means. It is quite clear, so far as the Italian Government is concerned, that it has no such intention. It does not want conciliation—it wants conquest. . "We must do something to restrain the bully. There is only one way to deal with a bully, and that is by the use of force. ■ ' . "Moral resolutions are no good, pious declarations of peace are wasted upon Mussolini. The. only ■' thing that he would understand is the collective force of nations who are determined to maintain the peace of the •world. , "It may mean war, but. that is a thing we have to face. We have to face the fact that there is no real alternative now left to us but sanctions, involving, in all possibility, war. If we fail and go back now, war is absolutely certain. . "Let us not allow a defenceless country to be butchered and murdered by the brute force of capitalism. We have to take our courage in our hands and determine the fate of this movement. "The ultimate hope of this movement is in. the maintenance of peace. This is a crucial moment in our history. Are we going to be true to our faith, or are we going to betray it?" Thunderous applause greeted Sir Walter's declaration of Labour's policy. "The arch megalomaniac of the world" was a phrase used by Mr. F. C. Walkins. (Railway Association) to describe Mussolini, when he seconded the "resolution. . "It is not only the Trade Union Movement which is supporting our attitude," he said. "Every decent-minded man and woman in this country is with us. We must unite on this. It is 'by far the most important matter before this Congress." '. Mr. H. H. Elvin (National.Union of Clerks) .said: "If war is going to be made on helpless Abyssinia, it is not going to'stop there., Then surely there is no other thing we can do but to uphold the League- of Nations/ DENUNCIATION NOT ENOUGH. Mr. Ernest Bevin (Transport Workers' Union) said that they could not preserve peace unless this nation, which was the greatest empire in the world,- with the greatest control of raw materials, and the ownership of practically every strategic point, was prepared to place side by side with that the advantages of world organisation and peace as against the maintenance of a narrow imperialism. . "In sending this declaration Of policy on behalf of the T.U.C. and the Labour Party to the world, we came to the conclusion that denunciation of Italy's policy was not enough, or even the threat of sanctions. We had to offer to the world, as a combined movement speaking for British. Labour, a declaration- of policy on the part of this great Congress.----"I think every delegate will agree that the thing that has been poisoning the force of international relationship has been the speculation associated with the development of- mining and raw materials in various parts of the world. There can be no more striking illustration of that than the' reported concession given to an American com-, pany in Abyssinia during the jpast few days." ■ . , ■ ■„ Mr. T. Scollan (Distributive Workers), opposing the resolution and the declaration of policy, said: "What, is the use of playing the hypocrite—what is the' use of pretending that we should be going to war under' high ideals? "We said that about poor little Belgium in the Great "War. We cannot support war even, under the League of Nations. "Mussolini is doing what emperors have done in the past—leading the masses to destruction. Let. us give a call to the'ltalian workers to remove this demi-god—that is the only way to end war." (Applause.) Mr. W. Arthur (Mineworkers' Federation) said: "Even if the Labour Party wants me; to do so, here is one who will not shed blood. I did it in the last war, but I will not do it again for any reason. In no circumstances can war be considered sacred.'! GOVERNMENT POLICY. Mr. G. Harm (Shop Assistants), also opposed the resolution, contending that the policy of the executive was the policy of the.National Government. "I never can bring myself to think that any good can come out of any v/ar'in.any.circumstances," he added. "X am /Satisfied .that you cannot deal with this problem by resorting to the slaughter, of your fellow-men." Uproar marked the proceedings when Mrs. N. Toohey (Tailors and Garment Workers), opposing the resolution, said: "This is the price we have to pay to the Government for the honours handed out to some of our members in the last Honours List." Delegates cried,. "Withdraw, withdraw," but Mrs.: Toohey refused. "I am sorry I cannot withdraw," she said "I come from the ranks of the working classes." Mr. F. Rowland (Painters' Union London) said that it would be a fatal mistake for the Labour movement to pledge itself to support the policy of the League of Nations. Sir Walter Citrine, replying to points raised, strongly denied that the General Council of the T.U.C. and the Labour Parly were anxious" in some way or other to push forward the Imperialist policy of the British Government.- • .... What the General Council was try-

ing to do was to carry out the decision laid down at last year's Congress. "We are aware of the risks of war involved, but we are prepared and have decided to take the risk and not to run away when the risk arises," he said.

"1 appreciate and understand the point of view which is opposed to force of any description. If we stand aside and do nothing, will that restrain Mussolini? How are you going to restrain him—with an appeal to morality?

"Our only hope for preserving peace is to face the crisis with a threat of superior force. The aggressor will then realise, with the characteristic of the bully, that he will get more than he is prepared for.

"If you reject this resolution it will be taken as a direct endorsement of Mussolini. . It will be taken as a carte blanche for Mussolini to go ahead. It will encourage the British Government to run. away." '

On a card vote the resolution was carried by a majority of 2,785,000.

The figures were: For, '2,962,000; against, 177,000.