LABOUR ULTIMATUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17546, 11 August 1920, Page 7

LABOUR ULTIMATUM.

'NO WAR AGAINST SOVIET. THREAT OF GENERAL STRIKE. THREE SECTIONS UNITED. By Telegraph—Press Association Copyright. (Received 11.20 pan.) Renter. LONDON, Aug. 9. A Labour conference, held in the House of Commons, passed the following resolution:—"That this conference, representing the Trades Union Congress, Labour Party, and Parliamentary Labour Party, feels certain that a war is being engineered between the Allies and Soviet Russia over Poland; it declares that such a war would be an intolerable crime against humanity, and warns the Government that the whole industrial power of the organised workers will be used to defeat this war; that the Executive Committees of the affiliated organisations throughout the country be summoned to hold themselves ready to proceed immediately to London for a national conference; that they be advised to instruct members to 'down tools' on instructions from that national conference; that a council be immediately constituted to take such steps as are necessary to carry this decision .into effect." The decision is unquestionably an ultimatum to the Government that a new war will mean a general strike all over the country. A prominent Labour leader declares that the decision is not only a threat, but the decision will materialise if necessary. Considerable enthusiasm prevailed at the conference following the adoption of the resolution. The Extreme Wing urged immediate direct action, but moderates, although equally favouring a firm attitude, secured the adoption of a more constitutional procedure. The unanimous decision of the joint political industrial and Labour organisations is an unprecedented action in the history of the Labour movement. It means that if Britain decides to institute war measures against Russia a national congress of trades unions-, will be held within a few hours to declare an immediate general strike, involving 6,000,000 workers. Sectional Labour protests continue to bo received. There is every indication that the great mass of the working population is united behind the leaders. The council of action appointed by the conference has arranged an interview with Mr. Lloyd George to-day.