New-York tribune., 1919-03-04
World Labor Pact
TOLack Provision
For enforcement
Barnes Believes Opposition
Interposed by u. S. Laws
Will Be Overcome, but He
Sees Other Difficulties
Nelc l'orl Tribune
Special Cdbie Seyrice
op, right. 1919 New York Tribune Inc


PARIS. March 3.-Wll the proposals
Of the Gompers commission on inter-
national labor legislation prove work
able, since they are likely to meet the
same form of opposition which the gem
eral league OF nations project is now
facing in the United States?
This question arises as a result Of
statements made by George Nicoll
Barnes, the British Labor Minister. be-
fore his departure for London. Mr.
Barnes SAID he thought it probable that
the commission would overcome diff
cultIes once thought insurmountable.
Two of the chief Of these, he explained
were obstacles interposcd by the Con-
stitution and laws of the United States
to free play Of international CO.
operation in labor affairs, and the OBJ
jections voiced from countries where
labor is low paid, based on the hypoth-
esls that their industries are so weak
that they cannot bear the burden of
bringing wage scales up to standards
Great Britain and the United States.
Applies to Other Localities
1t IS clear that the first difficulty ap-
plies also to Australia, Canada and
South Africa. Mr.. Barnes said the
commission believed it had found So
luton In an agreement that any ndi-
vidua state within federal union
shall have freedom Of choice in giving
or not giving effect to the conventions
as drawn.
II, however, adherence to the labor
conventions is matter Of free choice.
the whole question of effective inter
natlona! labor legislation would seem
to remain unsolved. Upon this phase
MI Barnea's view, which is understood
10 be the view also of the other com
missIoners, IS that no system of pcn-
alties for observance by unwillnr
states can or should be arranged But
1T Is assumed that IF the cooncration
or ait concerned is pledged there Will
arise inevitably such powerful body
OF international public opinion that
compliance viii be enforced. Mr..
barnes said:
"Whatcycr the league of nations does
70 give erect to It's decisions, we also
chn do under the leagues nuthoritv."
He emphasized the statement that
organized labor had been brought into
contact With the league Of nations
protect In such u way that as u last
resort the international labor lcgisIn-
tlon proposals. will become part of il.
This means that labor intends Ia de-
rive benefit by the exlStoncc Of inter.
national authority IN matters affecting
thc Improvement of living conditions.
Mr Barnes continued.
Labor has II stake ia tho world
that 1t never had before. 1t has n
standing equal to that OF The omplov'
ers, and, finally, both the employers and
the workers arc associated with TIC
state IN Il common cndcavor."
Asked how the low wage countries
viewed the work Of thc commission. MIR.
barnes rcplicd:
I'VE believe they are thorouehlv
alive to the necessity of improving
conditions. We are sure that il so
"ith regard 10 India and Japan, who
have been especially consulted and
whose dnficulties We appreciate"
Czecho Slovaks Adopt Laws
Mr. Barnes added
~ IL interesting to note that tho
Czecho- SloYaks, whose country now
comprises most Of what was industriul
austria, have recently adopted labor
laws quite up to the standard of anv
other country. italy also is becomlng
remarkably up to date in l.bor lcpisla.
tion. while Great Britain. by arranrc-
ment rnther than by law, is following
the same tendency"
mr. Barnes said that the Gompcrs
commission had not considered Ger
man incrSion in the international
labor proposals. for thc reason that
'ermany would fall into line AS the
peace conference decides He ex
pressed the nope entertained by all
.ne memptts OF the commission that
,ne neutfai countries would come into
the hrst International Industrial Con.
Rrcss. Switzerland is said to have a,-
ready expressed itsclf as favorablv
d'sposed, and though other ncutrols
complain that they were not consulted
me commission expects them TO rculjze
mat only the parties TO the peace CON
ference w@-s consulted.
Mr.. Barnes declined to state thc
nnture Of the dfIlcultios which he aaid
were presented by the Constitution and
laws OF ~" United States with refer
enc" TO international labor co6ncra-
ton, he rad this would be ditcloscd
wncn the Gompcrs commission bad
finally ratified The labor proposals and
pFcsentcd complete programme ia tho
peace conference.