LABOUR’S REVOLT

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 September 1927, Page 7

LABOUR’S REVOLT

AGAINST SOVIET ARROGANCE CO-OPERATION IMPOSSIBLE (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (By Cable—Press Assn. —Copyright.) LONDON, Sept. 8. The Trade Union Congress at Edinburgh held a discussion on the report on Russia. The debate was of a remarkably high standard, due to the importance and the unusual nature of the subject. The result was an endorsement of the report by 2,551,000 votes to 620,000. A number of the delegates, however, including the whole of the miners’ delegates, surprisingly joined the majority of the railwaymen in their opposition to the report, but Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P., who is one of the railway delegates, offered to take the initiative and appeal to the general body of the railwaymen, which turned out to be unnecessary. , Mr Citrine submitted the report: He said the T.U. Council was unanimous on it. He explained that the monumental patience of the movement had at length ended, and he pointed out that those taking the initiative in 1925 in the formation of the AngloRussian Committee were identical with those at present in the Congress. It was, he said, their considered belief that it was no use continuing relations with the Russians. This was because of more than their injured dignity. It was because the Russians did not realise that Moscbw was a battle ground, and that the rest of the world were spectators. Mr Citrine said that the Russians were unable to understand others’ hesitation to follow their own example, and were treating as enemies those who were desirous of a sincere friendship. The Russians thought themselves to be the guardians of the world’s workers, and to be entitled in lofty manner to pronounce for all countries thier industrial policy, and to support every minority revolutionary movement. . For instance, ■ there was the propaganda in the Miners’ Federation. He (Mr Citrine) and Mr Hicks, when visiting Russia, had had to listen to their friends being called “renegades” and “lickspittles.” Mr Citrine concluded: “The door of a resumption of negotiations will be unlocked, and will be reopenable on reasonable terms.” The Civil Service delegate, Mr Brown, moved the rejection of the report. This, Mr Cramp (railwaymen) seconded. Mi* Brown insisted that the report would contribute to the danger of a war against Russia, and would be an asset to the Baldwin Government. Mr Bevin summed up on behalf of the Council. He said that they no longer were able to co-operate with the people who were calling them “cowards,” "traitors,” "liars,” and “scoundrels.” The Congress unanimously accepted Mr Pollitt’s resolution demanding a select committee to investigate the reasons for the Government’s action in terminating relations with Russia.

COMMUNISM ABANDONED. LONDON, Sept. 8. “The Times,” in a leading article, says: “British sense and standard of honour carried the day at the Trade Union Congress when it decided to dissolve the Anglo-Russian Committee. Thus ends another sham. This committee had small influence in Britain. On the contrary in the disturbed British relations with the Continental Unions, there are now signs that the Labourites are completely abandoning Communism and its malice. The Trade Union Congress earlier in the week ignored Mr Baldwin’s suggestion that it should give a lead in industrial peace. Is it beyond hope that the Congress will now convert its pious aspiration for peace into a tangible proposal?” The “Daily Mail” in a leading article dealing with the Trades Union Congress, says this vote completely justifies the British Government’s action in throwing out the Bolsheviks. If says that the Congress has been slow to act, but there is now every reason for believing that it is fulfilling the wishes of the majority of the rank and file. RUSSIAN RECEPTION. MOSCOW, September 9. “The Trade Union Congress only carried out Sir A. Chamberlain’s orders,” says the newspaper “Pravda,” commenting on the Congress decision. “It is a sample of Socialist Imperialism, helping British Imperailists to prepare for war against Soviet. It is one more step in the campaign begun in May by the British Ministry.” TRADES UNION ACT. LONDON, September 9. The Trades Union Congress adopted a resolution protesting against the Government passing the Trades Union Act, and pledging the Congress to work for the repeal of the iniquitous measure. Mr Clynes urged his hearers to do their best to evade the purposes of the measure.