NO DRASTIC MOVE BY UNIONS

Southland Times, Issue 23823, 22 May 1939, Page 7

NO DRASTIC MOVE BY UNIONS

WORKERS’ ATTITUDE TO CONSCRIPTION UNDERGRADUATE SUPPORT ASSURED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received May 21, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 20. By the overwhelming majority of 3,923,000 to 550,000 the Trade Union Congress in a card vote defeated the advocates of drastic action against conscription and accepted the council s recommendations that trade unionists should not withdraw their co-operation from the Government in voluntary national service for civil defence. The congress also rejected by 4,172,000 votes to 425,000 a proposal by the railway workers for a general strike against conscription. The conference also resolved, by 3,678,000 votes to 450,000, to protest against the introduction of conscription, which it asserted was in violation of Mr Chamberlain’s pledge and other undertakings; to urge an immediate agreement with Russia to create a peace front; to co-operate with the United States in re-establishing international confidence leading to disarmament and the restoration of trade; to express indignation at the rushing of the Military Training Bill through Parliament without consideration of important amendments; to oppose the permanency or extension of military conscription; ana to demand that the Government should control prices, limit profits and conscript wealth. The resolution involves acceptance on a broad basis of a scheme dealing with war-time industrial problems and wider recognition of collective bargaining which will be negotiated with the Ministry #f Labour. After listening to an address by Mr Winston Churchill, Cambridge undergraduates voted 10 to 1 in support of the Military Training Bill. Mr Churchill urged the placing of national defence and foreign policy upon a plane above party politics and apart from political antagonisms. Mr Churchill said that the Government which had allowed Czechoslovakia to be broken and disarmed was surprised and horrified that Herr Hitler had marched into Prague, subjugated the Czechs and stolen all their belongings. The Government felt that Herr Hitler had deceived and defrauded it, eVen as had Signor Mussolini, in whom it had confidently trusted. It had turned round over a week-end and adopted the very policy that its opponents had for long advocated. This policy contained the best hopes of peace, said Mr Churchill, and, if peace should be broken, the best hopes of victory and the survival of free nations. The Government had now made commitments on all sides which, if resolutely carried out, could ward off all dangers. The Cambridge ballot resulted:— For the Government conscription plan 1869 Against 1247 Those favouring a full Anglo-Russian military alliance numbered 2078 and 703 were opposed to such an alliance.