South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-15

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The German communication.
signed by Foreign Minister Brock
dorff- Rantzau said:
With reference 10 articles 55 and
SO of the proposals for the establish
ment Of a lea que of nations submit
ted by Us. we beg herewith TO trans
nit the draft of an international
labor law, prepared by the German
government.
The German government is OF
one mind with the allied and asso-
ciated governments in holding that
the greatest attention must be Civ
Ell TO labor questions. Domestic
peace and the advancement of man
kind depend vitally on the adjust
ment of this question. The demands
for social justice repeatedly raised
in this respect by the working class
es of all nations are only partly real
lied in section / , OF the draft Of
peace conditions OF the allied and
associated governments on the or
ganization Of labor. These sublime
demands have for the most part
been realized in Germany with the
assistance of the working classes. as
is generally acknowledged. in an eX-
planatory manner. In order to carry
them into execution everywhere in
the interest of mankind the accept
ance of the program of the Ger
man delegates is at least necessary.
I'VE deem it requisite that all
states should join the agreement
even though not belonging TO the
league of nations.
Would Call Labor Conference.
In order TO guarantee TO the
working classes. for whom the pro-
posed improvements are intended.
cooperation in framing of these pro-
visions. the German delegation is of
the opinion that representatives Of
the international organization of all
contracting powers should be sum
mOned TO a conference at Versailles
TO discuss and take decision on in
ternational labor law, before the
peace negotiations are terminated.
The proceedings of the confer
ence should. in the opinion of the
German delegation be based on res
Olutions Of the international trades
unions conference In Berne (Feb
. 10 3. 1870 program for inter
national labor legislation. address
ed 10 the peace conference in Paris
which emanated from the decisions
of the international trades unions
conference in Leeds in 1916. At the
request OF the trades unions Of Ger
many we beg to enclose a copy of
these resolutions. which have been
adopted by Representatives Of the
trades unions organizations Of BOhe-
mia, Bulgaria. Denmark. Germany,
France. Greece Holland Italy, Nor
way. Austria. Sweden, Switzerland,
Spain and Hungary"
agreement by Germany.
tThe international agreement on
labor law prepared by the German
government. referred to in Brock
dorft Rantzau's letter, was prepared
in the German ministry Of labor
some months ago and first publish
ed on May /. Most OF this document
is taken up with detailed proposals
for labor legislation, a number Of
which were Incorporated in the ma
tional labor charter issued by the
syndicalist conference at Berne in
July. Slight provision. however. is
made for continuance OF interna
tionsl labor legislation. Article
seven. which contains the PROPOSE
tion for international organization.
speaks of an international confer
ence which should meet at least
once in hve years. In * each power
would have one vote. and a four
ffths majority would be necessary
before any resolution would be
binding upon its members. 4 COM
mission charged with the technical
oversight of the DEGREES Of this con-
ference is the only place where labor
would have any direct representa-
ton. and corresponds. with lesser
powers. 10 the international labor
office arranged for in the terms OF
the allies. The definite terms pro
posed at present include: Freedom
of immigration and the right OF So
cial insurance; the eight-hour day
and weekly rest the 14-year age
limit for child labor; medical super
vision for juveniles; provision for
education OF young persons; the
minimum wage; protection OF wom-