New-York tribune., 1919-01-23
Compers' Victory in
England Is Blow to
Berne. Conference
Delegates Who Refused to
Attend Meeting Called by
Henderson Will Help
Form a New international
Nem York Tribune
EuroDcdn Bureau

European Bureau
Copyright. 1919 New York Tribune Inc)
LONDON, Jan. Samuel Gompers
and the American labor delegation
with him gained significantly to- day
at the conference of the Parliamentary
committee of the British Trade Union
Congress. At the conclusion of long
session the British committee through
Charles, Bowermar, its secretary, an
nounced the following:
"The Parliamentary committee re
ceived an invitation from the repre-
sentatives<of the American Federation
of Labor TO meet them on their ar
rival, for the purpose of discussing the
dcslrability Of establishing a new
trade unicn international. The invi-
tation was accepted and conferences
held yesterday and to-day, with the re-
suit that the Parliamentary committee
passed the following resolution: THAT
this committee welcome the invitation
of the American Federation Of Labor
to take part in the formation of a new
international, and will appoint five rep
resentatives to attend the first meeting
time and place to be agreed upon
The following five delegates were ap-
pointed under the resolutions: Leu
tenant Colonel viii Thorne, NJ p;
Alfred Onions, NJ. p; Charles w. Bow
erman, NJ. P; Harry Gosling, president
Of Transport Workers Federation, and
r. B. Walker, president Of the Rural
bo
three were appointed delegates by Hen
derson to the congress in Switzerland,
but resigned. 1t is generally agreed
that they resigned because they be-
lleved the congress futile, ill-advised
and ill-timed.
by agreement, they are making no
public statement on the subject, except
to say individually that it was incon-
venient to attend"
Start for Paris
The Americans leave tomorrow for
Paris and will there make a general
confederation of labor PROPOSITIONS
similar to the--one accepted here to-
day. 1t is predicted that the French
will follow the British lead. Asked
tonight about his intentions regarding
the Berne congress. MIR. Gompers re-
fused to say anything. 1t seems clear
Trade Union Congress committee deals
the severest blow yet dealt to Hender-
sons plans. The congress he had
planned lost much of whatever weight
it might have had
There is a peculiar situation in the
British Trade Union Congress concern
ing delegations going to the Henderson
congress and to the congress called
by Gompers-among those attending
the latter congress being some who
refused to go to the Henderson gather
venient to attend the purely trade union
gatherings Gompers is convening, the
only Inference is that their agreement
with its character and purpose is more
enthusiastic
After Mr. Bowerman's announcement
newspaper men were told they would
be met by Gompers, who confirmed
BowermaN's statement without com
ment.
Gompers Approves Plan
As regards the general situation he
said: "This is an opportunity that
comes seldom in a generation Of
men. 1t is the purpose OF bona fde
labor to take part. to the end that the
rights of the workers be safeguarded
throughout the whole world"
d. Oudegeest and Edouard Fimmen,
president and secretary of the Holland
Federation of Labor, reached London
to-day and conferred with w. A. APP
pleton, secretary of the General Fed
Grafton of Trade Unions. Jointly they
stated for The Tribune that the pre-
war Trade Union international had
been Reconstructed" Since this is
purely trade union body it will come
in conflict with the American plans un-
less it can be made to harmonic.
Fimmen said that he planned to hold a
congress Of the old Trade Union Inter
national within month. Thus far,
about ten nations have agreed to par
ticlpate, including Holland and the
Scandlnavian countries in the general
federation here, and probably Belgium.