LABOUR APPEAL

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1939, Page 6

LABOUR APPEAL

BY PRESIDENT OF FEDERATION

(Per Press Association —Copyright),

AVELLTNGTON, Sept, 7

An appeal to the workers of all countries to make common cause in the fight against the aggression and dictatorship of Nazism is made by the president ot the. New Zealand Federation of Labour (Mr A. McLagan) in a statement which was issued to-day. The Nazis’ treats ment yif the people of Austria and Czechoslovakia had been marked by the* same ruthless oppression that had characterised their treatment of the German people, and it was all too evident that the same fate was in store for a,ny other people, who might fall into their power,, he said. “The New Zealand Federation ofLabour desires to place on record its complete unity with the Government of New Zealand and the governments of Great Britain and France in the steps they have taken, and are taking, to oppose and halt the unprovoked, wanton, and brutal aggression of Nazism and dictatorship.says Mr McLagan “The. federation has repeatedly express, ed its sympathy with the victims of this aggression, both inside Germany and in other countries which have been over-run by the Nazis. , ■

“We have repeatedly advocated the | formation of a league of the peoples of democratic countries, for mutual selfdefence, and for the preservation of Yii tUui.i ami civilisation, and ;every.-' *' thing that makes life worthwhile. Now utuu di last a stand rs being madej against forces that seek to'"arrest and turn back the wheels of human progress' we give it our unqualified support. _ “We wish it to be clearly understood that we do not blame the German people for the present catastrophe, and that Wo are not animated b v any feeling. of bitterness toward them. We know. that the dictatorship mat has plunged Europe into war is the enemy of the German as well as the enemy of other European peoples. We extend the hand of friendship to the German people, and we, pledge ourselves to help them to throw off the tyranny that is enslaving them. We believe our democracy is worth working, for, and worth fighting for. With this end in view, we. pledge our support to our comrudes of the trade union movement -in Great Britain -and £ ranee in their fight against aggression and for the liberty of the people throughout the world, ; >-r

“We shall do everything, in our power to support our Government during the struggle. AVe pledge ourselves to cooperate with me Government in carrying on the country’s work, and in maintaining production at the highest ,pos-’ sible level. We trust the struggle will be mercifully brief, that reason will soon return in the international sphere,: and that a lasting peace, based on the principles of justice and democracy, will soon be secured. Until then, we pledge our wholehearted support in the struggle against aggression . and against the Attempted rule of force, in international: affairs. We appeal to the 'workers of all countries, including the workers of Germany, to make a. common cause in the fight against aggression and dictatorship, and 'for yhumaii justice, liberty and international brotherhood?’