New-York tribune., 1919-06-23
Margaret Bondfeld, Dele.
gate to A. F. of L., Says
TOiIers Think WiIson and
Lloyd George Outwitted
Deplore Change Of Front
Workers Are Unlikely, She
Declares, to Participate
in General Strike Protest
Std1 Correspondence

Sta1 Correspondence
ATLANTIC CITY, June 22.-Though
her hosts, the American Federation of
Labor, went on record on Friday as
approving Of the principle of the
league of nations, Miss Margaret
bondfeld, fraternal delegate from the
British Trade Union Congress, does
not approve Of it. Her constituents.
she says, believe Lloyd George and
President Wilson lost in the game Of
wits with the peace delegates from
the Continent.
According to Miss BondAeld, the
workers of Great Britain are anything
| but satisfied with the peace treaty
They hold, she says in a prepared
statement, that the treaty should not
be approved by workers "who favor
justice for all''
Division in Great Britain
"The feeling in Great Britain is
divided" says Miss Bondfield. "A
strong section, backed by large f.
nanclal interests, would be willing to
PACK PACK most extreme kind of material
lstlc peace. That is not the kind of
went to fight or for which the labor
party stands. They had a vision of
freeing the world of it's domination
by militarism and despotism. That
IS why the terms of the peace treaty.
have caused so much discomfort in ali
sections of the country irrespective of
political groupings.
1,,., The early speeches of President
Wilson swept through Europe ike
beacon light of hope, and his ana
proval of the peace terms has caused
corresponding depth IF disorno;n+
ment p'o'"'-
"The Anglo-Saxon diplomatists an
pear to have been outmanouvred hv
the more experienced men of the ola
school of secret diplomacy-theys should
not have abandoned their safe shields
OF open diplomacy and trust in the
common people of the world.
we workers feel it is hypocritical
to talk Of self-determination for the
Jugo-Slavs when Ireland is denied
self determination. We sincerely de-
sire league of the peoples of the
whole world.
General Strike Unlikely
"As far as the workers are concerred
on this question, my personal oninion
is that the British trade union move
ment will not participate in a general
strike, as, unlike France and IIalv. #
is not part of the traditions of the
British movement on political ques
tlons. That must not be construed to
mean. however, that they are any the
less indignant at the betrayal Of the
democratic principles. I think the 1e
action is likely to take a political form
and the Labor party will grow cnor.
mously in strength because of it's fine
stand on principles as apart from ex-
pediency.
III our government exercises COM
mon sense and allows free expression
OF opinion and free development of
our institutions along the lines of de-
mocracy. there is no fear of violent
revolution in our country, but the Brit
ism people are determined not to 20
back to the old order of industrialism.
Seek Peaceful Revolution
They, want peaceful revolution,
but II their efforts are met with sup
preston and Prussian methods of gov
ernment there undoubtedly will be an
upheaval. The British labor movement
earnestly desires the cooperation of
the great American labor movement in
the work of establishing peace that
Will be just and lasting and a civiliza-
tion in which war will find no place.
One way in which this can be ac-
compllshed is by building up an inter
national labor movement through
"hlch tne united influences of the
workers of the world can be brought
to bear on the league of nations labor
charters.
1--WE believe, with our comrades of
the French trade union movement that
trade unionists are not only concerned
in hours and wages, but that they are
concerned in control of raw material
and manipulation of natural resources.
so that the trade and commerce of the
world may be conducted for the com
mon good Of all peoples of the world,
and to change the motive of trade
from private gain, with all its jeal-
ousles and rivalries. to public service.
This is the stupendous task Of labor"