STORMY SPEECH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21945, 13 February 1946, Page 6

STORMY SPEECH

ADMISSIONS UNIONS U.s. DELEGATE FIERY NATIONAL BODIES’ RIGHTS (9 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 12. A stormy speech by Senator T. Connally (America) when the United Nations Political and Security Committee resumed its debate regarding the admission of the World Federation of Trade Unions to UNO, drew a deafening roar of applause and table thumping from the other delegates and roars of’laughter, some of which were directed against the chairman, M. Manuilski. . The storm broke when M. Manuilski asked Senator Connally whether, if the American Federation of Labour was also admitted as he proposed, would it not mean the admission also of the Catholic Trade Union representatives and the South American Federation of Labour. Would it not be better that they should be consulted on questions concerning them? Box in “Amen Corner” Senator Connally rose and stormed: "This is war. We don’t want to enter this organisation with enmity against anyone. We come here in the spirit of peace. We don’t want to pull robes around us and dictate ‘You shall sit here. You shall not.’ ‘‘When you admit one and exclude another, you are declaring war against them,” he declared. Looking down the table a.t M. Manuilski, Senator Connally, amidst roars of laughter, and applause, shouted: “Do not kick trust into dirt. Embrace it and take truth .to your chest. Mr. Chairman. Soften up your mind.”

Speaking in a more conciliatory tone and waving a cigar, Senator Connally said that he was all for the World Federation of Trade Unions and had given it priority in his resolution. “I have given it a box at the opera where it can look down on the act before anyone sees it,” he stated. “We have given it a seat in the ‘amen corner’ up close to the priest.” In a spirit of concession he had put the American Federation of Labour in second place. lie was ready to say to the W.F.T.U.: “Take a front seat. Move up next to .the . chairman—if you can get any closer than you are.” There was renewed laughter, table thumping and applause. Senator Connally contended that if the committee adopted M. Gromyko's resolution it would recognise the W.F.T.U. to the exclusion of everybody else, so nobody but they could sit in the “amen corner.” Senator Connally added: We dont want the Labour representatives of our great country to sit aside and be rebuffed,” he said. “You are going to need us in the years to come and the W.F.T.U. is going to need you.” British Delegate’s Support

Mr P. J. Noel Baker (Britain) supported Senator Connally and criticised the Russian resolution which excluded other Labour bodies. Mr Manuilski, whose attempt to jump to his feet was frustrated by Mr NoelBaker's intervention, rose to reply. He was as calm and unperturbed as usual. He argued that it was a great mistake to beheve that national bodies could be put on the same level as a world-wide organisation. Senator Connally was asking for a privileged exception to be accorded to the A.F.L. If this weie done, why should not the privilege be granted to other national union organisations. Dr Porras (Panama) made a speech which, though as violent in tone as Senator Connally’s, boiled down, when it was translated from French, to subdued disagreement with Senator Connally s proposal. . . , Mr Gromyko (Russia) pointed out that the A.F.L. could join the W.F.T.U. if it wanted and therefore be represented at the consultations wish the W.F.T.U. Mr P. Fraser (New Zealand) said that everybody was agreed about admission of the W.F.T.U. and he could see no reason why all the rest of the organisations should 'be left out. If there was to be any disagreement they should deal with the proposals separately. Canada, Ecuador and Argentina supported the United States proposal. The committee adjourned without reaching a decision. __