SOVIET DELEGATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24834, 6 February 1942, Page 6

SOVIET DELEGATION

REPORT ON TOUR OF BRITAIN f ' HIGH MORALE OF WORKERS RUGBY, Feb. 4. M Shvernik, leader of the Soviet Trade Union delegation which has been visiting Britain, said to-day that the delegation was entirely satisfied with its stay in Britain and with the opportunities it had had for fulfilling the purposes for which it came. It visited more than 10 cities and about 60 factories, works, mines, and shxpdelegation stressed in particular the hearty welcome received everywhere, and considered that these facts taken 'together, were an expression of the warmest feelings for the Soviet Union and most profound appreciation of the very serious help which the Soviet Union had afforded, and was still affording, to Britain by drawing off the main German forces to the east. Working Well The delegation considered that if industry as a whole could be judged by the work of those factories and plants which were visited, British industry was working well. It saw good organisation of production and excellent equipment, but the most striking fact of all was the splendid morale of the British working men and women. In the delegation’s opinion, British working men and women understood very well the seriousness of the international situation to-day, and the magnitude of the peril which hung over the liberty and independence of millions like a black cloud. The delegation was convinced that its meetings with British working men and women would serve to reinforce the friendship between the British working class and the working class of the Soviet Union. Hearty greetings had been received from British workers, and an assurance that they were determined to carry on the fight until complete victory over Hitlerism. The delegation was of the opinion that the difference of political systems between the Soviet Union and Britain could not constitute an obstacle to the working classes of both countries in the struggle against Hitlerism, and to their giving full support in that struggle to Comrade Stalin and Mr Churchill. “The Soviet Trade Union delegation,” stated M. Shvernik, "expresses its confidence that its stay in Britain and the personal contact with the leaders of the General Council of the British Trade Union Congress-will have a beneficial influence for the further deepening of the friendship between the Soviet Union and the British trade unions, and thereby for the greater success of our joint activities in the fight against Hitlerite Germany.”

Unutilised Reserves M.* Shvernik added: “The high morale of the British working class is particularly important, because the industry of Britain must in one way or another reach an increasingly greater tempo in its work. British industry must do this because the war demands it and because the interest of all freedom-loving peoples demand it, and in the interests of Britain herself first and foremost. British industry possesses all that is requisite to an increase of the output of all forms of armaments. The delegation asserts that there is still in industry very considerable unutilised reserves.”