The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-12-28

the magnificent report of the Com
mittee on international Relations
adopted by the American Federation
of Labor at Buffalo, N. Y.
In this declaration the American
labor movement lays down basis
upon which it believes peace should
be negotiated and it insists also
upon having direct labor represen-
tation in the peace congress to be
held when victory is made secure.
GREAT EMPHASIS is LAID ON
THE NEED FOR GUARDING
AGAINST ANY PREMATURE
PEACE.
This document should be read by
every union man and woman and
should be given the widest possible
circulation among those who do not
belong to trade unions. This dec
laration will rank high among the
great declarations produced by the
labor movement in relation to the
war.
Read and preserve this official la
Dor declaration:
Peace terms should presage con-
dition to lasting peace grounded
upon conditions that are just, fair
and honorable to the peoples Of all
countries.
We agree with the Executive
Council that ''The government should
be only an instrumentality of the
people instead of dominating and
actuating their lives" and further,
that "This terrific war must wipe
out all vestiges of the old concept
that the nation belongs to the ruler
or government and moreover,
There is no element in all nations
more concerned in the achievements
of conditions making for permanent
peace between nations than the work
ing people, who constitute the ma
jority of every nation. The future
must be constructed upon broader
lines than the past. We insist,
therefore, that the government Of the
United States provide adequate and
direct representatives Of wage-earn-
ers among the plenipotentiaries sent
to the Peace Congress, and urge
upon the labor movements Of other
countries to take like action"
Basis for Negotiation
The Executive Council offers the
following declaration as a basis upon
which peace shall be negotiated:
/. The combination of the
free peoples of the world in
common covenant for genuine
and practical cooperation to Sc
cure justice and therefore peace
in relations between nations.
2. Governments derive their
just power from the consent of
the governed.
8. No political or economic
restrictions meant to benefit
some nations and to cripple or
embarrass others.
4. No indemnities or reprisals
based upon vindictive purposes
or deliberate desire to injure,
but to right manifest wrongs.
5. Recognition of rights of
small nations and of the prin-
ciple, "No people must be forced
under sovereignty under which
it does not wish to live"
g. No territorial changes or
adjustment of power except in
furtherance of world peace.
In addition to these basic princi-
pies, which are based upon declara-
tions of our President of these Unit
ed States, there should be incorpor-
ated in the treaty that shall consti-
tute the guide of nations in the new
period and conditions into which we
enter at the close Of the war the
following declarations, fundamental
in the best interests of all nations
! anu VI Nlldl AulPpi NttltNN " "DSN
earners:
l. No article or commodity shall
be shipped or delivered in interna-
tional commerce in the production
of which children under the age of
16 have been employed or permitted
! to work
?. 1t shall be declared that the
basic workday in industry and COM
merce shall not exceed eight hours.
8. Involuntary -servitude shall not
exist except as a punishment to
crime whereof the party shall have
been duly convicted.
A. Establishment of trial by jury.
Your committee concurs in the
foregoing with a clear understand
ing that it is submitted as basis
upon which peace terms may be ne
gotiated.
Exchange Labor Representatives
ha eAaaan farms