Page 12 — P. A. Features. March 17

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By NIGEL MORGAN

ENDING | its 12-day sessions on a high note of unity and enthusiasm, the World Trade
Union Conference dispersed its delegates from 35 nations to all corners of the world,
unanimously committed ‘to work together for the creation of a powerful, democratic, all-

inclusive World Trade Union Federation at the earliest practicable date.”
issues before the London Conference, stripped of associated problems, were:
@ Trade union unity.

the war.

Put in that simple way, the
importance of this historic con-
ference will be realized at once.
Delegates reached decisions
which will go right to the heart
of the common man in every
country ; decisions which clearly
proved that a united’ interna-

tional labor organization; with —

the full backing of its constitu-
ent organizations, is capable of
achieving the aspirations of the
common man for a full life for
himself and his children.

The conference demonstrated
that workers in the free coun-
tries are united by a common
bond—the struggle for victory
over fascism. The story is the
Same no matter where you go;
whether it be Britain, the Se
viet Union, the United States,
or the once-occupied countries
of France, Belgium, Holland,
Greece or Yugoslavia. Just as
the organized workers in the
Allied countries, not rayaged
by Nazi military occupation,
have made possible the gigantic
efforts for victory, trade union-
ists in the occupied countries
formed the backbone of the Re
sistance Movements. Workers
who have staked so highly in
this war, whose willingness to
work and die has made yictory
possible, have the biggest stake
in securing a lasting peace.
And, if for this reason only,
the delegates to the World Con-
ference truly expressed in their
decisions the hopes of the
Briton, the Russian, the French-
man, the American, the Yugo-
slavian, the Canadian and
workers in the other countries.

“History, that harsh teacher,
has taught us a costly lesson
in the last tragic and bloody de-
eade; the lesson that unity
among all democratic forces of
the world is the one condition
without which peace and pro-
gress are impossible.” With
this ringing declaration, Sidney
Hillman of the ClO introduced,
in the sixth day of the confer-
ence, his organization’s pro-
posals for the creation of a
new trade union international
which had one of the most pro-
found effects and in fact, mark-
ed the turning point, for a more
definite policy in the confer-
ence proceedings. Sidney Hill-
man, leader of CIO’s powerful
PAC movement, which is cre-
dited with having assured a
Roosevelt victory in the recent
United States elections, re-
ceived a tremendous ovation.
Delegates rose to their feet and
cheered for a full minute. “We
must also face the fact,” he
continued, “in all frankness,
that labor is not exerting the
influence of which it is capable
in shaping the policies which
are now heing made, or in the
work of the agencies now being
established for their adminis-
tration. This is not because la-
bor in many of our countries is
not well organized and infiuen-
tial in its own right. It is be-
eause it has lacked a powerful
international organ which could
speak with authority in sup-

@ Shaping of the

peace.

port of our common objectives.
Any further delay in the es-
tablishment of such a body de-
lays labor’s full participation
in shaping the peace settlements
which are now being made and
which may determine the course
of history for generations to
come. “It is clear,” he con-
cluded, “that the leaders of the
IETU themselves agree that
that organization—as now con-
stituted—does not meet the de-
mands made upon international
labor in’ these eritical days.”

QNE of the major tasks of the

delegates, that of creating
and authoritative body to con-
tinue the work of the confer-
ence, was achieved, and Mr.
Géorge Isaacs, M.P., chairman

The pivotal

hoped that the present. IFTU,
which has its headquarters in
the British TUC’s Transport
House'in London, and has for
its chairman, Sir Walter’ Cit-
rine, could have been adapted
to*form the nucleus of the new
international. But apart from
the opposition which this pro-
posal’ would have met with in
many countries; it is absolutely
impractical, for the IPTU has
not,agreed to assume this role.
However, as Sidney Hillman so
correctly pointed out: “History
— that harsh teacher — has
taught us a costly lesson—in
the last tragic and bloody de-
cade” with the result that a
high degree of tolerance and
compromise was shown
throughout the procedings and

@ Winning |

ference to ensure trade union
representation at the coming
Peace Conference and aid all
preparatory commissions and
conferences. (¢) Prepare a
draft constitution for the World
Trade Union Federation and to

circulate it to constituent
bodies. (d)  Reconvene the
World Conference not later

than the end of 1945 for the
adoption of the final consitu-
tion and the completion of such
other “business as may arise.
(e) Convene an emergéncty
Wor!d Conference, if necéssary-
(£) Issue invitations to the next
conference and. accept affilia-
tion of such additional union
bodies as it or the conference
may determine.

This last point leaves the
door open for affiliation of the
American Federation of Labor,

which has so far refused to
participate.
Addressing the conference

on behalf of the CIO, Sidney
Hillman stated: “We regret the
AFL is not here and when they
decide to come in we will make
a place for them on the execu-
tive committee.’

Pictured above are some of the 35 Soviet delegates to the World Labor Conference.

of the conference and a leader
of the British TUC, said: “The
conference marks a turning
point in workingclass history.”

The delegates to the confer-
enee claimed the right to pre-
sent their views on the peace
settlement to the governments
of the United Nations. They
expressed the desire for trade
union representation on the
new international bodies which
will be set up in connection with
the peace. And that is why
most of the major delegations,
particularly the CIO, the
French, Soviet, Latin-Amer-
ican, Indian and many others,
proposed the creation by the
conference of an authoritative
body which would get to grips
with the drafting of the con-
stitution for a new trade union
international. The British dele-
gation was hesitant. They had

an agreement reached out of
which a new body, uniting world
labor, will speedily emerge.

Delegates unanimously
agreed to the establishment of
a World Trade Union Confer-
ence Committee, fully repre-
sentative of the composition of
the London meeting. This con-
tinuation committee, which
elected a small administrative
committee, shall: @ establish
its headquarters in Paris and
start work immediately the
conference ended. @ Act as the
authority until the Wor!d Trade
Union Conference is reconven-
ed, with power to (a) collate the
recommendations of the con-
ference, t0 submit them to the
constituent bodies for ratifica-
tion and to prepare and submit
a report to the reconvened
World Trade Union Federation.
(b) Act as agent of the con-

van,

(CANADIAN labor will be rep-
resented on the continua-

tions committee by Pat Sulli-
secretary of the Trades
and Labor Congress of Canada
(AFL). The administrative
committee includes Philip Mur-
ray and Sidney Hillman of the
United States; Sir Walter Cit-
rine and Ebby Edwards of
Great Britain; I. Saillant and
B. Franchon of France: V. Kuz-
netsov and N. Tarasov of the
USSR; Lombardo Toledano and
A. Casillo of Latin-America; H.
T. Liu of China; W. Scheveles
of the IFTU and J. Oldenbroek
of the International Trade
Secretariats. 2

One of the first big jobs of
the committee will be to ask
the United Nations govern-
ments to give the World Trade
Union Federation a place at
the San Francisco Conference,

A New Hope For The Future

which opens on April 2:
six leading figures at th:
don Conference —Hillma
rine, Kuznetsov, Te.
Siallant and Ernie Thor
Australia, are expected —
to the San Francisco

ence in any event and it
ticipated they will be |
to attend the sittings 7
conference in an ESE,
consultative capacity.

EQ eenmized labor,” th
ference stated, “with sc
2 part in winning the we
not leave to others—h:
well-intended they may |
sole responsibility of 1
the™ peace. “Phe peace wi,
good" ‘peace, only if it 7
the deep resolve of th
peoples, their “interests,
and needs.” :

“A postwar world m
created which will be 4
of all those who have
and built to save den
and civilization from d-
tion’ was the basic dem
the declaration of the ci
tee on postwar reconsti
The governments of the |
Nations must do all in’
power to provide relief
increasing scale to the 1°
ed countries. -Effective —
ures to secure the planr
patriation of the peop”
ported by the enemy; ¢ |
ments must insure suitab
for all at adeauate rates i |
the speedy introduction
4-hour week, a fortnich
cation with pay and a
state system of social
ance; legislation to cont |
prevent the formation of
poly; and agreements, wi
manded by the confere:
regulate prices of stapl
modities entering into 0
tional trade. Long-term:
for the economic and ind
development of colonial
tories and backward co
were also -urged to as
continuing and expandins |
perity.

PASSIONATE des:

completely destroy th
vestiges of fascism - 4:
achieve trade union un
policy and organization, —
ed throughout the cont
This was first expressed |
decision of the confere
admit the unions from /
enemy countries of Italy.
garia and Rumania ani
land. The decision of tl
paratory committee whic
ed the conference was +
should be confined to uni
the United Nations ant)
trals, but the conference |
have none of this. It 1%
that the trade unions 1}
‘enemy countries come an
ticipate in the building: sof

unity.

There was also unat |
support for the propositi |
vanced by the fLatin-Am #
unions that fascism wou 7
be completely overthrow 7
less the present gover! |
of Spain, Portugal and i/
tina were destroyed ar ®
people of those countries 9
an opportunity to returt |
democratic way of life. ~
step to this, the conferer ?
eided to ask the governm| |

== Continued: on Py :