NO MOVE FOR PEACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19324, 11 May 1926, Page 9

NO MOVE FOR PEACE.

ATTITUDE OF LABOUR.

OLD DEMANDS REPEATED. DEFENCE OF THEIR ACTIONS. STRIKE PURELY INDUSTRIAL. By Telegraph— Prea3 Association —Copyright. (Received 7.5 p.m.) A. and X.Z.-Reuter. LONDON. May 9. The week-end failed to produce any approach to the Government by the Trades Union Congress in the direction of an acceptance of the Government's decision requiring the calling-off of the general strike before negotiations would be resumed.

The most important happening to-day was an official reply issued by the congress to a statement which had been broadcasted by the Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin.

The congress says Mr. Baldwin's reference to the general strike as a danger to the country is likely to lead to considerable misunderstanding. Therefore, it reiterates that, the struggle is an industrial question, and that the British Constitution, in so far as the congress is concerned, is not involved

"Mr. Baldwin has talked about getting round the table, but he has made it a condition that the general strike order shall be withdrawn," says the congress. "We do not find anything in his speech about the withdrawal of the 'lock-out' notices, fJo says no door is closed. We have constantly said a resumption of the negotiations should occur upon the position which had been arrived at en April 30. "If that door is open it is for the Prime Minister to make clear that the 'lock-out notices should be withdrawn as well as those calling the strike. So far as we are concerned Mr. Baldwin will find us willing to listen to any statement he has to make."

The congress asserts that an increasing number of workers arc coming out in trades which are regarded as Labour s second line of defence.

"In our anxiety to convince the public that we are not pursuing anything in the nature of a revolutionary struggle," adds the congress, "we have refused other undesirable offers of financial assistance, as well as that from Russia." "Whatever the end may be. so far as t lie nation is concerned, it must be worse after the strike, than before." admitted Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P., in a speech at Hammersmith. He said that, all attempts to raise the constitutional issue were not only wrong, but dangerous. "Whatever the result, ' said Mr. Thomas, "it will not he made by us a challenge to the Constitution. The responsibility is indeed heavy, but graver responsibility will rest upon whichever side fails to recognise the moment when an honourable settlement can be reached. That moment must be accepted and everyone must, work for that end. Mr. C. T. Cramp, secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen, speaking at Stoke Newington, said no seasonable person would prolong the conflict for a moment if it could be closed honourably. But no one could give the Prime Minister a blank cheque. NO SUNDAY SPEECHES. LABOUR LEADERS BUSY. PROBLEMS OF THE STRUGGLE. (Received 11.55 p.m.) Renter. LONDON, May 10. Members of the Trades Unions Council and of the executive of the Miners' Federation were to have given addresses at various centres yesterday, but they wrote at the eleventh hour cancelling their engagements. Hiey stated that allday sessions were necessary to keep in touch hour by hour with the changing phases of the struggle. WOMAN BOLSHEVIK. ARREST IN YORKSHIRE. AGENT OF THE RUSSIANS. S im . LONDON. May 9. A school-teacher named Isabel Brown, who gave her permanent address as Moscow, was to-day sentenced to three months' imprisonment for making a seditious speech at Castleford, Yorkshire.

The woman admitted that she had been sent to England by Russian Communists to carry out a recruiting campaign on their behalf.

A FRIENDLY SPIRIT

STRIKER'S AND POLICE. FOOTBALL AT PLYMOUTH. Renter. LONDON. May 9. The good-natured spirit winch prevails throughout the country was exemplified at Plymouth yesterday when an Association football match was played between u team of strikers and a team of police. The former won by two goals to one. The wife of the Chief Constable kicked off.

Special football ami cricket matches are being organised for the strikers and their families in all parts of thcYonntry. Concerts, dramatic entertainments and whistdrives are also being organised. This furnishes further evidence of the absence of bitterness and ill-temper, with which it might have been expected the struggle would have been fought out.