The sun., 1919-01-31
G0MPERS AND
WILSON COOL
Labor Man Against, President
For, Bern Meeting
Break Seems Near.
TWO HOLD A CONFERENCE
Union Leaders Policy of Abb
solute Boycott of Germany
Is Opposed Also.
TWO HOLD A CONFERENCE
Special Wireless Despatch TO THE SUN.
Toppyl,lf Ill S;1Ays


Copyright 1879: oil rights reserved.
PARIS, Jan. 30.-President Wilson is
believed to have come near the parting
of the ways with Samuel Gompers,
head of the American Federation of
Labor. The President has been rely
ing upon the Bern conference to give
him support, and he is eager to en-
courage the conference in every way.
Gompers is opposed to the confer
ence and has refused thus far to at
tend or have his organization repre-
sented. Gompers also favors an abso-
lutte boycott OF Germany after the war,
to which the President is opposed and
against which the Bern conference is
expected to record itself.
Gompers has been giving out views
opposed to the Presidents ideas. and It
is no secret here that Mr.. Wilson s
friends are displcased by the labor lead
ers attitude, since they expected he
would prove a friend and ally OF the
President at this critical juncture.
Gompers's position now appears to them
as extremely reactionary.
Gompers and the President had long
interview at the Murat house last night,
a. which all these matters were dis
cussed. The results were not disclosed.
Orders PASSPORTS for Labor Men.
The President Is understood to be so
favorably disposed toward the Bern con-
ference that he has cabled to the United
States ordering that passports to labor
leaders, thus far refused. be issued at
once Gompers is insistent that trade
unions keep out of politics. and as the
Bern conference is essentially political
he is dead against It. II is apparent
that Gompers must recede from the po-
s!tion lie has assumed or break with the
Prcsiden.
English labor leaders. notably Arthur
Henderson, whom Lloyd George called
Il Bolshevik in the heat OF the last cam
paign but who now is working in close
touch with the rrenier. is disappointed
at the attitude OF the American labor
delegation in Paris, headed by Samuel
Gompers.
The Americans are said TO hold them
selves aloof from the British. The Eng
lish leaders believe the American dele
gates are shortslghted in refusing TO at
tend the Bern conference. which is
gaining new supporters every day.
Belgians In Tight Place.
The Belgian leaders. who once an
nounced they would not attend. are re-
considering. chiefly because they are
seeking every possible ray of light as
n way out OF the very serious economic
situation In their country. where hum
dreds OF thousands are without work
and where prices are exorb!tanL Many
Of the refugees who hurried home from
England and France are clamoring TO
return because they cannot ftnd Work.
Belgium, it is pointed out. is one of
the most serious problems confronting
the Peace Conference, the Germans hav-
ing completely wrecked her whole
economic structure.
Henderson pointed out to-day that
the Bern conference. far from being
frowned upon by the Allies, was ap-
proved by the iuterallied conference in
November tho sole stipulation being
that II German delegates were met the
conference sheuld not be held in France
because protection to the German dele
gates could not be guaranteed.
1t was argued that meeting the Ger
man delegates would TO far toward help
ing 10 stay the spread OF Bolshevism,
and that the old argument against meet
ing the Germans during the war, namely,
that they would use the conference as a
means for jockeying for military advan-
tage, would not now hold.
The British and American delegates
will try to get together tomorrow. but
strong differences of opinion are ex-
pected to develop. Strange as il may
seem. while the American civil officials
and army officers realize the war is over
and want only to conclude peace and get
home II is said that Gompers wants 10
keep on fighting the war indefinitely,
showing himself more recalcltrant than
even those whose homes have been raw
aged and loved ones killed.
new allied economic committee Is
being formed here to consider the ques-
ton of modifying the German blockade
and other economic questions. McCor-
mick for America, Clementele for France
and probably Lord Robert Cecil for Great
Britain will compose the committee.
This committee will assume great i'm
portance soon, and II is planned that IL
shall have equal voice with Marshal Foch
eventually IN determining future changes
In the armistice terms.
ResaIcs TO Germany Up First.
THE first question will be whether the
neighboring neutrals shall have the right
to resell allied imports to Germany. Hol-
IL, a. 10 IN