EFFORTS FOR PEACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21859, 23 July 1934, Page 9

EFFORTS FOR PEACE

SAN FRANCISCO DISPUTES PROSPECT OF ARBITRATION (Received July £2, 5.5 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, July 21 The position of the striking longshoremen in San Francisco was greatly weakened to-day when the lorrymen by 1138 votes to 283 decided to return to work unconditionally. This means that they will-handle goods from ships which so far they have refused to do, even before the general strike was called.

Only the longshoremen, the associated maritime unions, and the Market Street tramway operators refused to return to work. Late this e\ ening, however, General Johnson, chief administrator of the N.R.A., announced that the shipowners had agreed to arbitrate not only on the longshoremen's strike, but the maritime strike. Thus the way apparently is open for a complete settlement of the difficulties if the Radicals headed by Henry Bridges agree to arbitration. report states that the shipping operators have agreed to arbitrate on the control of hiring halls, but that the Longshoremen's Union has not yet accepted. Up to nojv they have insisted that they must have complete control of these halls.

The Government's mediators, who include Mr. Robert Wagner, a member of the Senate, continue to seek some acceptable basis on which to settle the longshoremen's strike. It is understood that Mr. Wagner, and perhaps others, believe the dock workers have some legitimate grievances, and that an element within the shipping ranks is. taking an unreasonable attitude on some vital issues.

The police, i.ided by "vigilantes," continue their campaign against Communists and Radicals, and ha\e conducted raids on alleged Communists' headquarters in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Los Angeles. In several cases the police are said to have placed Communists in' gaol to protect them from the. "vigilantes." At least 350 Radicals have been arrested in San Francisco in the past three days. Many have been sentenced to three' months' imprisonment, and others are being held for deportation. Brisk business has been started, as all the other phases of the general strike have disappeared. It is estimated that the losses since May, attributable to the strike, aggregate 100,000,000 dollars, including the men's lost wages.