The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-15
Allies Refuse To Take Up Hun
Note on Labor Laws.
Take 1t as 1t Is or Leave 1t,
Says CIemenceau.
HUNS SAY TREATY RUINS THEM
BrOckdOrff- f-RantZau Declares
Millions Will Starve.
Nation Will Be Economically
ParaIyzed, He Says.


has declined to consider the not from
Count Won Brockdorff-R Rantzau, chief
of the German peace mission. relative
to international labor legislation.
CIcmcnc- Iu Replies.
Premier Clemonccau. replying for
the allies. indi-ated that the article
must be accepted as drafted.
NJ. CIemenceau says the allied and
associated governments are of the
opinion that their decisions give salts
faction to the anxiety which the Ger
man delegate processes for social jus
tice. and insure the realization of re-
forms which the working classes have
more than ever right to expect, after
the cruel trial to which the world has
been subjected during the last five
years.
Text of His Reply.
The text of the reply to the German
note sent by NJ. Clemenceau follows:
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of May 10 in
regard to international labor legislation,
together with draft Of an international
agreement on labor law The reply of the
allied and associated governments is as
follows:
They take note of the declaration made
by the German Delegates lhat domestic |
peace and the advancement of mankind |
derend upon the adjustment of the labor
adjustment will be rendered easier in the |
future than in the past, as men $ minds !
are freed from the fear OF war, and in |
dustry is relieved of the burden of arma- !
ments which German militarism had i'm |
posed upon it,
Part thirteen of the draft of the con-
ditions of peace provides Il means by which ]
such adjustments can be made. and section |
two Of this part of the draft lays down |
the principles which will progressively |
guide the labor organization and the |
league of nations Article 42l indicates |
RI Irf fgarN nf
cipies set forth Is not exhaustive The |
purpose, of tile labor, organization is that |
il should promote the constant develop |
ment Of the international labor regime.
Germany Must Sign.
The labor convention has been inserted |
in the treaty Of peace aud Germany will
future the rights of your country to par
ticipate in the labor organization will be
secured. as soon she is admitted into
the league of nations in accordance with |
Article | of the treaty.
1t has rot been thought necessary to !
summon labor conference at Versailles. |
The conclusions of syndical conference
mt Berne. which are reproduced i'll the
draft OF the international agreement on
labor law, referred to in the first para |
graph of your letter Of the 10th instant, !
lad already been studied with the closest
attention. Rep esentatives of the trades
unions had taken part in the preparation
of the articles relating to labor
AS appears, moreover. from the annex
to section of part Il. page 200, the
program of the first session of the in
II
Washington next October comprises the
most important of the questions raised at
the syndical conference at Berne. Trade
unions will be invited to take part in that
conference and il will be held under direct
rules which provide for due effect being
given to conclusions subject only to the
assent Of the competent authorities in the
countries represented.
Says Hun Plan Inferior.
The draft of the international agreement
on labor law, prepared by the German !,
government, is deficient in that it makes !
no provision for the representation of labor |
at the international conference which is !
proposed. 1t is also inferior to the por- !
visions submitted in part Il of the peace !
conditions i'll the following respects
"(A)-five years sugg, sted
maximum interval between conferences.
tArticle - The pence conditions-one
"G)-each country has one vote
CArticle q The peace conditions give
vote to each delegate whether repre-
sentinG government employers
workers. (Article 500
"(C)-resoIutions are only binding if
carried by Il majority Of fOuT-fifths of
the voting countries. (Article 4 Tie
peace conditions provide that . major
ity of two-thirds only of the votes cast
shall be necessary ON the final vote for
the adoption of recommendation OF
ference. (Article 4OJ)
The allied and associated governments
are therefore Of the opinio" that their de-
Cisions give satisfaction to the anxiety
which the German delegate processes for
social justice and insure the realization of
more than even II right to expect after the
cruel trial to which the world has been
subjected during the last five years
Accept. sir, etc.
(Signed) &c CLEMENCEAU."
Brockdorff- Rantzau's Note
The text of the German note which
was forwarded on May 10 by Count
Won Brockdorff-Ra follows:
versailles. May TO- 1919
The German peace delegation to his ex-
eelency, the president of the peace CON
sir: With reference to articles 30 and
JG of the proposals for the establishment
we beg herewith to transmit the draft of
an international agreement on labor law
prepared by the German government
The German government is of one mind
in holding that the greatest attention must
be given to labor questions. domestic peace
and the advancement of mankind depend
vitality on the adjustment of this question
The demands for social justice repeatedly
raised in this respect by the working,
classes OF all nations are only partly real
lied. III principle section l. of the draft
of peace conditions of the allied aud as
soclhted governments on the organization
of labor. The sublime demands have ot
most part been realized in Germany with
the assistance Of the working classes as
Is generally acknowledged. in an eNemulary
manner. IN order to carry them into exc
cutiou everywhere in the interests of man
kind, the acceptance of the program of
the German delegation is at least nereS-
sary. We deem II requisite that all states
should Join in the agreement even tho not
belonging 10 the league of nations.
Ask Versailles Meet.
In order to guarantee to the working
claYscs- for whom the prouoscd improve
tContinued Page Twol