The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-05-03

ing the Internationl Typographi
cal Union on the American Labor
Mission to Great Britain.
The perfidy of the Huns is being
understood by the working people
of all the Allied nations now as nev.
er before, and is bringing the work.
ing people of those nations to.
gether in such common understand
ing and determination as they have
not had since America entered the
war.
This the American trade union
mission now in Great Britain is find
ing out with more surety as the
days pass. If the "peace by con-
clliation" idea, with it's "co-bellig-
erent conference" forerunner has
entirely lost its footing, it also has
surely lost all its menacing posi-
bilities, and no longer constitutes
danger of even the remotest
kind.
It's most ardent proponents plain-
ly are fighting rearguard ac-
tion and evidently are on the way
to complete abandonment of their
ill-sponsored child.
Organized labor in the Allied ma
tions is more closely united in
thought, policy and spirit than
since Americas belligerency began
and this unity promises to devel-
op rapidly and be firmly forever
cemented before the American trade
unionists take ships for home.
1t becomes more apparent as
the time passes that there has been
much Misunderstanding, due almost
wholly to what appears to have
been campaign of studied misrep-
resentation of both the British
and the American workers to each
other.
The American delegation so far
has met and conferred with each
important national division of Brit
ish labor movements. 1t has met
with the parliamentary committee
of the British Trade Union Con-
gress, which corresponds in large
measure to the executive council
of the American Federation of La
Dor. 1t has met the executive COM
mittee of the General Federation
of Trade Unions, the purely trade
union organization of which w. A.
Appleton is secretary. 1t has met
party in the House of Commons.
Not in any of these groups has |
the American delegation been able |
to find the slightest trace of will
ingness to consider peace with Ger
many before the aims of democracy
have been realized.
The leaders of every one of these
groups have expressed complete ac-
cord with the war aims laid down
by President Wilson and agreed to
by the American labor movement.
Thus on the question of war aims
which is the all-important question,
allied labor is united firmly and
steadfastly.
The American pacifists have been
strenuous efforts to con-
sole themselves with the idea that
there is sympathy for their trai.
torous programme in the British la
bor movement This has been found
to be absolutely untrue by the
American trade unionists now here
and the investigation has beer
searching.
There seems little doubt that Ger
man agents fostered the PROPOSE
ton for co-belligerent conference
for what purpose remains to bc
seen. but all too evidently to drive
a wedge between the workers and
the governments of the Allies
while seeking to lead the allied
to believe wedge was
driven between the Teutonic work
ers and their governments.
Again Prussian treachery has
failed The assault on the West
ern front has revealed the fullness
Of that treachery. There is no
questioning the honesty of the lead
ers of Great Britain, who have pro-
pagated the conference idea. OF
these Arthur Henderson is not hold
ng to the ground which he was re- 1
presented in America as occupy I
ng He will not go further now
than to say:
.We are willing to converse, but |
we are not willing to negotiate"
His position is that negotiations
,an only be conducted by the gov
ernment of a democracy. The con
ferences with the Americans con- 5