Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-13
LABOR IN BRITAIN
VOTES TO OPPOSE
WAR ON RUSSIANS
Yelled Threat Made to Cut Off
Coal Supply of
France.

LONDON, August 1S.-The opposi-
tion of British labor to assistance in
/ the war against soviet Russia was
hemence and absolute unanimity at a
special conference here representing
all elements of the workers.
The resolutions adopted hailed with
satisfaction the Russian governments
declaration in favor of the complete
independence of Poland" and pledged
the British labor party to resist any
form of military Intervention against
soviet Russia.
The meeting approved the action
of the triple alliance of labor organ
izations in forming a council of ac-
tion to deal with the situation aris-
ward the war between Russia and
Poland, and it recommended the levy
of half-penny upon every member
of the party to raise a fund for the
requirements of the council.
Method Is Desperate.
The adoption of the resolution viva
voce was ratified by the delegates at
the invitation of William C. Adamson,
chairman of the labor party in the
today's meeting. He asked them to
observe ''the solemnity of standing"
for a minute, and the delegates unan-
ifn0usly complied with his request,
complete silence being observed in the
hall the while.
National Union of Railwaymen, one of
the principal speakers at the meet
ing, said that if circumstances de-
manded it would be for the whole
abor movement to decide upon direct
action.
desperate and dangerous as is our
method" he continued, I'VE believe
that the disease is so dangerous and
the situation so desperate that it is
only desperate and dangerous methods
that can prevent calamity. The re-
solutions do not mean that it is to be
a mere strike or a simple down tools"
policy. If they are to be effective
they mean a challenge to the whole
Constitution of this country"
Threat to Cut on Coal.
Robert Smillie of the miners or
ganiZation, in discussing the situation,
said:
IF France and Gen. Wrangel cut off
Russia's coal supply, will it be inter-
fering too much with France If the
British miners and railway men cut
off Frances supply?"
ASSeTliHS lndt the bTltlSH lduoI
party members were the only people
able to prevent an attack on Russia,
he went on, amid cheers:
Il want to thank our comrade,
Winston Churchill, for uniting the
British democracy. We couldn't DO
it ourselves. Now the British people
have achieved unity. God send us the
sense to preserve it,
Tom Shaw; secretary of the Inter-
national Textile Workers, bitterly at
tackled the league of nations for not
preventing Poland's offensive against
Russia. The present conference, ne
said, was the beginning of move
ment that will lead to a real league.
He asserted the bolsheviki were i'm
their frank dealings with other
countries.
Calls Sentiment Representative.
Robert Williams. general secretary
of the Transport Workers Union. as
serted that labor was far more repre-
sentative of the sentiment of the
country than the house of commons
and better qualified to pass on the
go to war and go to hell'' policy.
The conference concluded by sing
ing the "1nternationale" and cheering
enthusiastically. BY its resolutions
the council of action was instructed
TO remain in being until it secured
guarantees that the British forces
would not be used in support OF
Poland. Gen. WrangeI or any other
military or naval effort against soviet
Russia: second. of the withdrawal of
the British naval forces blockading
Russia, and third, the recognition of
the soviet government and the es-
Enlistment of unrestricted trading
and commercial relations between
Great Britain and Russia