Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-13
BRITISH LABOR STILL
SUPPORTS SOVIET

London. Aug. 13.-(By A. P.)-Thc
opposition Of British labor to assistance
in, the war against Soviet Russia again
| was voiced today with extraordinary
vehemence and absolute unanimity al
special conference here representing
all elements Of the workers,
The resolutions adopted "hailed with
satisfaction the Russian Government s
declaration in favor Of the complete in =
dependence 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 organization
in forming council of action" to
deal with the situation arising from the
governments policy toward the war be
tween Russia and Poland. and it rec
commended the levy of half penny
upon every member of the party to raise
n fund for the requirements of the coun
ell.
James II. Thomas, secretary of the
National Union of Railwaymen. one of
the principal speakers at rne meeting
said that IL circumstances demanded II
would for the whole labor movement to
decide upon direct action.
Desperate and dangerous as is our
method he continued. 1--WE believe
that the disease Is so dangerous and the
situation so desperate that it Is only
desperate and dangerous methods that
ran prevent calamity. The resolu.
tons do not mean that it is to hc i
mere strike or simple 'dOwn-tooi
policy. If they are to be effective. they
mean challenge to the whole constitu-
ton of this country
Robert Smillie, of the miners or
ganization, in discussing the situation
said
IF France and General Wrangel cut
off Russia's coal supply, will il be in.
terfering too much with France if the
British miners and railwaymen cut off
Frances supply?'
Asserting that the British Labor
party members were the only people
able to prevent an attack on Russia, he
went on amid cheers:
II want to thank our comrade, Win
ston Churchill, for uniting the British
democracy. We couldn't do il our
selves. 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
tHt iFhkuf VI NdtlbHN lOI ilut
preventing Poland's offensive against
Russia. The present conference, he
said, was "the beginning OF a movement
that will lead to real league" He
asserted the BolshevIki were immense
ly superior" to the Allies in their frank
dealings with other countries.
Robert Williams. general secretary
of the Transport Workers Union, as
serted that labor was far more repre-
sentative of the sentiment of the coun-
try than the House of Commons and
better qualified to pass on the ''go
to war and go to hell" policy.
The conference concluded by singing
the ''Internationale" and cheering en-
Enthusiastically. BY it's resolutions the
council of action was instructed to re-
main in being until it secured guaran-
tees that the British forces would not
be used in support of Poland, General
Wrangel 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 Govern
ment and the establishment of unre-
stricted trading and commercial rela
tions between Great Britain and Rus
sia.
Progress by the Russians in their
westward drive in the district south of
Brest Litovsk and east of Lublin is re-