The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-07-19

y
sideration a recommendation, which
if adopted, will inaugurate new
feature in our international relations.
AS the result of painstaking observa-
tons and investigation your mission
was impressed with the failure of
ordinary official methods of com
munication to keep the trade-union-
lists of the Allied countries sufficient
ly well informed as to developing
tendencies, and the tentative pro-
grams which were being considered
by many of the leaders, or launched
upon the movement by some of it's
affiliated groups.
"There is, of course, no difficulty
in securing complete statements of
all the official aims and policies
adopted in conventions or confer
ences by representative trade union
bodies. But in the strong currents
set in motion as a result of the in
dustrial dislocations due to wartime
conditions, there is much Transporting
of most vital influence upon our
movement which may not become a
matter of official report for months.
at is unnecessary to present any
lengthy argument for the purpose of
making it apparent that if intercom-
munication is necessary to the well
foTn of pI1r J,,,i,,o, ,,o,,,,o1
tines it becomes increasingly so
during war time, and absolutely es-
Sential to the welfare of our move
ment during such a war as the
present worldwide conflict, in which
not only armies but industrial move
ments as well may prove the deter
mining factor in the final balancing
of the scales.
while there exists free inter
communication between the trade
union movements of the Allied ma
lions, this has in our opinion proved
insufficient to enable our movement
to keep in as close touch with what
was transpiring and developing
abroad as was essential to our mu-
tual welfare. We therefore recon-
mend that during the period of the
war, the American Federation of
Labor maintain one or more direct
representatives in Europe.
German Leaders Know Position
cat another point in this report
there has been reviewed at length
the desire Of many leaders, and the
declarations of the inter-allied con-
ference, in favor of holding a con-
ference or conversation with repre-
Sentatives of the German workers.
1t was not deemed wise to add to
that section of the report the find
ings which we wish to record in this
paragraph, but those findings should
be conveyed to our movement.
ave were able to learn before
leaving Britain that unquestionably
the leaders of the German and Aus
trian trade union and Socialist move
ments have for some time had full
knowledge of the pronouncement of
the inter-allied conference of Feb
ruary last and that they have failed
to make any statement of their own
purposes and have failed to indicate
any willingness to enter into any
meeting with representatives of al
lied labor as proposed in the inter
allied declaration. This of itself
seems to show clearly the attitude of
the German workers and to prove
that the entire program for an in
ternational conference falls of its
own weight.
"Throughout Great Britain and
France we were impressed with the
desire of the people for closer re-
lationship with America and better
understanding of Americans and
American ideals. This desire was
constantly expressed with the deep
est feeling and at every turn we
were made aware of love for our
land and our people and that, we
feel, must have its full flower and
frultion in a common effort to build
a better and nobler civilization upon
the foundation we now are fighting
side by side to make secure.
LAS Americans we were deeply
touched by these expressions of at
fiction so frequently brought to us
by Representatives of all walks of
life. The people of our allies indi-
Gated to us resolve for 4 partner
ship of ideal and effort and a
brotherhood of spirit that sl.all last
for I'll time, utilizing TO the full the
opportunities that shall be ours in
common through democracy made
safe from attack by scientific des-
potism and brutality.
A. Il