The Washington herald., 1911-05-21
OPPOSITION EXPLAINED.
Why Central Labor Union L Against
Arbitration Treaty.

Arbitration Treaty.
Editor Tbs Washington Heah:
John w. Foster. former Secretary Of
State. expresses surprise that the Central
Labor Union Of the Distict has adopted
resolution opposing the proposed arbi-
tration treaty between this country and
Great Britain and says that ''of all people
In the world the laboring men should be
most interested in the maintenance of
peace"
The laboring men are interested in the
maintenance Of peace, and tho resolu-
tions Of the Central Labor Union con-
demned the proposed arbitration treaty
because there is strong evidence that II
is mot a genuine peace measure. but, on
the contrary. a cunning scheme to bring
about an Anglo-American alliance for
the promotion of British interests alone" I"
They also pointed out that a new treaty
is wholly unnecessary for the preserva-
ton Of peace. that there Is an arbitra-
ton treaty with England now In force
which is an ample guarantee of peace,
and cited a speech Of Sir Edward Grey.
the British foreign secretary. as proof
that England wants the new treaty "as
hhC 8tcp al dllduCc ~df
against third power"
Perhaps Mr.. Foster has not seen the
clear and positive evidence on which
these statements were founded. On
March 13, in the British House Of Com
mons. Sir Edward Grey delivered a
speech in which he referred to the pro-
posed arbitration treaty as follows:
THE nations that made such an agree
ment might oe exposed to attack by a
third power. This would probably lead to
their following with an agreement TO join
each otner in any case where one Of them
had quarrel with a third nation which
had refused to arbiuate."
MIR. Foster cannot deny that Sir Edward
Grey, the min--ter responsible for Eng.
lands foreign policy. used these words
and they mean an alliance for war. The
third power referred to was Germany
England expects war with Germany. and
she wants American help in that war.
That speech was made In opposition tc
a genuine peace motion looking to the
cutting down OF the expenditures for the
navy, which press so heavily on the Brit.
ish workingman. The resolution was
proposed by Mr.. Macdonald. member fol
every labor member In the House Of Com,
mons. Sir Edward Grey opposed 1t and
pleaded that England must have a fee
strong enough to defeat those of any two
other nations. In the course OF tina
speech he indorsed the proposed arbitra
ton treaty In the words above quoted, a.
the first step to an Anglo-American ALI
ance. Sixty-two members Of Parliament
including every labor member, voted
against him.
So that the Central Labor Union was act
ing in the true interests Of peace In pass
ing resolutions opposing a treaty tina
would probably involve this country II
war for England's benefit. The Contra
Federated Union OF New York. after ;
careful and exhaustive examination ant
giving a patient hearing to committee
from the Peace Society and to opponent
OF this treaty. withdrew from participa
tion In a so-called peace meeting intended
to indorse the arbitration treaty will
England and insisted that Samuel Com
pers must not speak there. Mr.. Gomper
refused to speak.
Another reason why organized labor u
opposed to this treaty is because it Ii
proposed that there shall be similai
tor Burton. of Ohio. a member Of th'
Foreign Relations Committee. said SO II
speech delivered at Cleveland. Ohio
on March IS. He also said that TIT
arbitration treaty with Great Britain
would be followed by an alliance be
tween the three powers. the Unitet
States. England, and Japan. Such al
alliance would be destructive Of the In
terests of the American workingman.
there were an alliance. or even an arbi
! tration treaty. with Japan. 1t would b.
I,rda lahOrer
from the Pacific Coast, and from ther
they would speedily swarm over tn
whole country. The American working
man will never consent to that, and Mr.
Foster can rest assured that the Centra
Labor Union knew what II was doinl
and why II was doing It last Monda,
night We do not want war. and W
have no quarrel with the English peo
pie. but we want the British govern
ment to pull its own chestnuts out o
the fire.
AS to Andrew Carnesie's lately de
veloped zeal for peace and arbitration
it is too transparent to deceive any sen
sible man. The workingmen in the Pitts
| burg district wanted peace and arb
tration, and his agents gave them bullet
instead He was abroad when tn
slaughter Of Homestead took place; bu
there was a cable in existence then, a
we'll as now, and one word from hir
would have stopped It, but that wor
never came. And what kind Of peac
does he want now? Not world peace
but peace between England and America
so that England may wage war wit
greater advantage. He sent a cable
| Mr.. John Redmond on last st. Pat
ricks Day In which he said that IVA
will be abolished within the wide boun
| do rias of the English speaking race.
As they don't speak English in Ger
many, that lets Mr.. Carnegie's cat ou
Of the bag.
| 1t is in the interest of American labo
that there should be peace; but Amer
can labor will not allow itself to be Dc
luded into supporting a bogus peac
movement when its chief promoters ao
NIT. as Sir Edward Grey did. that tn
arbitration treaty is to be followed
an agreement to make war.
| P.J. RYAN.
4 Chairman Ierislaflye Committee,