TRADES UNIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 81, 3 October 1938, Page 4

TRADES UNIONS

»- —

! BLACKPOOL CONGRESS

| TWO IMPORTANT SPEECHES

THE THREAT OF WAR (By Air Mail, from "The Post's" London Representative.) LONDON, September 8. ! Two important speeches marked the early stages of the Trades Union Con-, greso at Blackpool. Mr. H. Elvin, in. his presidential address, demanded that "Germany should be outlawed until she has realised that barbarism in the twentieth century does not: pay." Sir Walter Citrine, general secretary, shattered the case of the opIponents of the British Government's plea for acceleration of re-armament. Mr. Elvin, whose speech was described by "The Times" as "whirling words," launched into a series of denunciations of capitalism. He called for uncompromising hostility to all forms of capitalism and dictatorships and, treating it in a slightly- different way, informed the delegates that "our motive is to rid the world of capitalism" under which "the most successful pirate becomes the man of large charity, the form of which has debased the Christian dream of love." Turning to the international situation, Mr. Elvin said we were near the mentality of 1914. The policy of the; T.U.C. movement was peace and the; modern instrument for realising peace; was the League of Nations. Not the' League, but those who had controlled it and had thrown sand into the machine, were wrong. Peace and democracy were on the lips of the Government but war and Fascism were in their hearts if deeds were to be their judges. ; EUROPEAN CAMPS. For Mr. Elvin the choice was simple and clear —on the one hand democracy, peace, and Socialism, and on the other Fascism, war, and Capitalism in an intensified form. In respect of Abyssinia, Spain, China, and Austria the Government had, by an exhibition of supineness and timidity, allowed the prestige of the British Empire to sink to its lowest level for 100 years. Was Czechoslovakia to be the next sacrifice? If not, why Lord Runciman's visit to that country? Why had not Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Republic plainly told Germany that she must "keep off the grass." This brave people of a democratic republic must not be thrown to the wolves; no pressure must be bVought to bear on Czechoslovakia to succumb to Germany's " r'uthlessness. This might be Europe's last chance to prevent another world war. In the interests of humanity it was time that the Government's acquiescence in the designs and actions of Germany, Italy, and Japan ceased. Germany ought to be outlawed until she realise/1 that barbarism in the twentieth century did nol pay. , The field was set, Mr. Elvin went on, for a struggle between two ideologies—Fascism and Socialism; and for him peace is divisible—peace abroad and at home the class war. The people were not class conscious; only when they were would the classless society be in sight, and it was the movement's duty to bring this home to them. There was no neutrality in the struggle between democracy and freedom, on the.^one handy and Fascism and attrition on the other. T.U.C. AND THE GOVERNMENT; J Sir Walter Citrine made an import-; ant statement on the General Council's policy. He declared that in dealing with any Government on behalf of the trades union, movement, the -conduct of the General Council must be determined by industrial and not political considerations. ' Sir Walter presented the case for the General Council, which was criticised by leaders of the Amalgamated Engineering Union mainly on the ground that the Trades Union Council had interfered in the prerogative of the union. He recalled that on March 23 the council received a request to see the Prime Minister, and they agreed to meet him. "The Prime Minister made to us a confidential statement," continued Sir Walter. "He told us that it was.essential for rapid and extensive rearmament to take place. . The Eurof pean situation necessitated that. Thi: statement was very intimate. It "dealt fully with the adequacy' of Britain's resources, her military, naval, and air strength. ROAD TO RE-ARMAMENT. "It also dealt with the condition-in this respect of Britain's probable allies and with the of the po-: tential aggressors in Europe., : The Prime. Minister made it very clear from which quarter aggression. was most likely to come. It has been common knowledge that, step by step, aggression was threatening from the dictatorship States'.": It seemed that the Government were intent on getting as much public opinion created .within the industry as to the necessity for acceleration as^ they possibly could. The Prime Minister had made it plain that the practical means of carrying out the rearmament programme was essentially something for the employers, the

trades unions, and the Government- to arrange between them. Never once was any suggestion made that it Was the function of the T.U.C. to deal with the question. The Government was told that it would be the height of folly to suggest to the trades unions a departure from their established practices.. COUNCIL NOT CRITICISED. Sir Walter said that the Federation of Engineering and ; Shipbuilding Unions and the Amalgamated Engineering Union were given the fullest possible statement on the meeting with the Prime Minister he could make, and not the least breath of criticism was raised about anything which the General Council had done. "Re-armament has been- going oft for nearly two years. It: will con* tinue. Our function must be to secure the rights of members and see that because of this rearmament pot icy they are not prejudiced in carrying it out." The General Council must have regard to the policy it'hgg laid down for some years, which is that we must stand up to the aggressors and that if the challenge is mad* this country must meet it," Sir Wat ter said. . • ■ ;. .-..■;, "Last year, we said with no .uncejj* tain voice that we approved of this Government equipping this country with the defensive means to meet that challenge. When we are brought face to face with the practical, carry^ ing out of that policy no General Council can escape its responsibility*'-' Mr. J. C. Little, president of tht Amalgamated Engineering Union, describing a meeting which members of his union had had with Sir Thomas Inskip, Minister for Co-ordination of Defence, said: "I was annoyed when we met Sir Thomas, because he .appeared to be treating us as a lot^l children, waving a little, flag.andj&sif* ing us to support the Government-*;