NON-COMMUNIST INTERNATIONAL MAY REPLACE THE W.F.T.U.

Grey River Argus, 29 October 1948, Page 5

NON-COMMUNIST INTERNATIONAL MAY REPLACE THE W.F.T.U.

(Received C'ctobei’ 28, 9.0 p.m.) LONDON, October 28. Observers in London foresee little chance of the World Federation of Trades Unions putting its organisation in “cold storage,” as the General Council of the British Trades Unions Congress has recommended, says Reuter’s industrial correspondent. It is anticipated that a bitter international trade union conflict will follow the T.U.C. decision. The threatened withdrawal of the British Trade Union Movement from the W.F.T.U., however, would completely erase the already fading pretence of co-operation and brotherhood between moderote trade unionism and Communist trade unionism. If the T.U.C. withdraws from the W.F.T.U., it is possible that nonCommunist unions would . form a new international organisation.

The American Federation of Labour has been strongly pressing for this for some time. It would probably become a member. The Commonwealth Trade Unions might also join. Trade Union sources believe that, in any case, such forces will not be long delayed, instances, such as the quarrel between the Mine Workers’ President, Mr. Will Lawther, and his Communist Secretary, Mr. Arthur Horner, over support for the French miners’ strike, have gone from the front pages, but are reported still to be simmering behind the committee doors.