LABOUR AND WAR

Southland Times, Issue 17876, 4 September 1918, Page 5

LABOUR AND WAR

THE DERBY CONGRESS. PRO-ALLY DEMONSTRATION. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. Copyright.) (Australian, and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, September 2. In connection with the Trade Union Congress opening on Monday at Derby a big pro-Ally demonstration carried a resolution with only seven dissentient's of congratulation to the Allied armies and navies for the magnificent victories, and saying: “There must be no peace until the Hohenzollerns and Hapsburgs are crushed.” Mr Thorne proposed and Mr Tillett seconded the motion. Mr Thorne said rather than accept peace at Russia’s expense he would prefer to see Britain wiped out. THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. LEANINGS TOWARDS PEACE DISCUSSIONS. LONDON, September 2. Received September 3, 7.20 p.m. The Trade Union Congress at Derby has opened, 779 delegates, representing over 4,500,000 members, attending. Mr Fred Ogden, M.P., in his presidential •address, defended the action of the Parliamentary Committee in striving to make itself the central bureau for the British section of the international Trade Union Congress. The international Trade Union movement is full of immense possibilities. The close co-operation of the political and industrial elements of the British Labour movement, as represented by the Parliamentary Committee, is a matter of life and death for the realisation of Labour’s ideals. The Congress must uphold the Labour Party. We ought, after four years of war, to try and discover a way to peace. He denied that this meant a dishonourable peace, or peace at any price, but a just peace on lasting foundations. This war would not be the last unless the democracies took the sceptre' from the hands of those who in the past had power to unsheathe the sword. Mr Ogden advocated internationalism amongst the workers in order that those doing the bulk of the fighting might decide peace or war. He intended that the full significance of that statement should be appreciated in the enemy’s country. He unhesitatingly welcomed the plea-for-peace atmosphere. If the workers remained solid and kept their vision clear, they would soon see an industrial Canaan. It was impossible to express anything but horror and detestation at Germany’s crimes, but their aim should be to get together to settle all disputes.