Denver labor bulletin., 1918-08-10
REPORT OF AMERICAN LABOR MISSION
ON MEETINGS WITH ALLIED WORKERS

WoTheIS VI NeIHdHy dHu huSIIld, anu
the effect upon the workers in the al
lied countries should the workers Of
the central powers refuse to partici-
pate. With the exception of the self
confessed pacifists, we found the Brit
ish representatives stoutly insisting
that the allied armies must be loyalty
sustained by the workers in indus
try, and the German military machine
defeated. There was also a unapi-
nous agreement with the thought that
the time had arrived when the trade
union movement should be more di-
rectly represented in international
diplomacy connected with this war,
and that there should also be simi-
lar representation at the official peace
conference following the ultimate ar
mistice.
1t was suggested that the mission
after having participated in the con-
ference should endeavor to determine
the extent to which the A. F. of L.
war aims agreed with those of the
British Trade Union Congress and the
inter-allied conference of February
last. The mission, however, assumed
| the position that it had no authority
to negotiate, or agree relative to the
actions taken by the labor movements
/ in any of the allied countries. 1t
held that it was only authorized to
state the war aims and policies
adopted by the A. F. of L. and to con-
fer with the representatives of the
labor movements of the allied nations
so that an accurate report of their
aims and policies could be submitted
to the American movement. Further
more, the members of the mission de-
clined to take part in the considera-
tion or adoption of any resolution
which might have been introduced or
to make any public statement as to
any points of agreement or disagree
ment which might exist in the war
aims of the trade union movements of
America and the allied countries. By
assuming this position your mission
prevented any misconception as to its
functions and the misconstructions
and neutrality-suspicious. which might
have been placed upon its actions by
those who were desirous of discredit-
ing it, or making it appear that there
existed difference of opinion, how
ever slight, between the members of
the mission and the official war aims
of the A. F. of l.. Upon its return
from France the mission again met
with the same group of British repre-
sentatives, this conference being held
on April IT, in Central hall, Westmin-
ster. On this occasion the impress
sions received as the result of con-
ferences with joint representatives of
the Confederation General du Travail
and Socialist party, were submitted
and the need for a closer and more
continuous method of contact and COM
munications with French trade union
lists expressed.
In France there exists joint rep
resentative body created between the
Confederation General du Travail and
the Socialist party to consider all
questions relative to labor's war aims
and policies. 1t was this joint body
which welcomed US by luncheon in
Paris on May 5; several hours were
devoted to a statement of the French
and American labor war aims, and
the ground prepared for the two con-
ferences which took place the follow
ing day at the headquarters of the
Confederation General du Travail. At
the first of these the official reports of
A. F. of L. conventions were read as
they had been at our conferences in
London and the same explanation
given. Those present representing
French labor were in hearty agree
ment with the A. F. of L. war aims,
tho they differed somewhat with the
methods adopted by our movement,
anu ehS 5ACaS ihayOAiey WCAC OPPOoCo
to the American determination to par
ticipate in no international confer
| ence until German armies were no
longer a menace. One of the most
prominent figures in the Confedera-
tion General du Travail expressed the
opinion which was supported by prac-
tically all French representatives pres
ent, that an international conference
was necessary, this conviction being
that it would be possible to impress
upon the German and Austrian work.
ers that it was their duty to act for
the general welfare of the workers of
the world. If these representatives
should refuse to agree upon just peace.
terms, then nothing would be left but
to continue the war. He believed,
however, that by meeting with them,
action could be taken which would
hasten peace and supplant pluticratic
government by Socialist government.
While our French brothers differed
somewhat with the methods of the
A. F. of L., they repeatedly expressed
not only their unqualified approval of
the A. F. of l.. war aims, but their
conviction that in adopting these the
j American labor movement had clearly
shown the way for all labor move
ments to follow. We found during
our conferences that among our
French brothers there exists wide
differences of opinion as to the meth
DDS by which war aims were to be
applied, and that as in Great Britain
there existed no small differences as
to methods and policies between those
who were purely trade union repre-
sentatives, and those who represented
the political groups assuming to speak
for labor. AS in Great Britain, efforts
were made to have US commit our