BOLSHEVIST FAILURES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19277, 15 September 1924, Page 8

BOLSHEVIST FAILURES

LABOUR MEMBER’S SPEECH

LONDON, September 2. “Do not let the British Communists forget that the Moscow Communists have admitted their absolute failure, and have come to a capitalistic country to borrow to enable them to carry on their work, ’ Mr J. Sexton, Labour member for St. Helens, in the House of Commons, told the Trade Union Congress at Hull. His remarks caused an uproar. During the debate on the British Communists’ proposal that the council should do its utmost to reunite the world’s trade union movement by summoning a new International, including Soviet delegates, Mr Will Thorne, Labour M.P. for Plaistow, also annoyed the Communists by declaring that unity was out of the question, because of the Soviet’s outrageous and abusive language towards British and other trade union leaders. “They say we are old and stodgy and played out, and that we are the tools of the capitalists,’ said Mr Thome. Mr Cramp, the chairman of the National Union of Railwaymen, declared their willingness to meet the Soviet delegates, and treat them as equals, but not as dictators. British trade unionism was the strongest in the world, he said, and would not accept dictation from Moscow. He added that in abusive language the British delegates were able to hold their own. The proposal was rejected. “The Sham Treaty” is the title of a pamphlet issued from the Liberal Party’s headquarters, detailing the Anglo-Soviet agreement. It contends that the agreement does not bind either country to settle anything, and does not touch some of the most important Anglo-Russian differences It suggests that the proposed, loan could not be less than £100,000,000 to do Russia any good, and expresses grave doubts whether Russia- can pay interest, thus leaving the British taxpayers to shoulder the burden.