Evening star., 1924-12-21

international secretary, the American
executive committee not having yet
had time to discuss the matter.
Germans Propose Levy.
The continental delegates were not
of the opinion that the delay of the
Americans In promising their definite
help need necessarily delay the carry
ing out of the scheme decided upon
in Prague. Some of them pointed out
in fact that the American aid was not
absolutely indispensable to the
scheme at all. The German delegates
went a step further and proposed an
all-around increase of the interna-
tional contribution to five gold pfennig
per member, whereby ample provision
would be made for all the cost of a
full-time international secretary, even
If the Americans failed to contribute
their share. The new organization
could thus be set up without delay.
But the British delegation did not
see its way to adhere to this proposal
except on condition of 1t being ac-
cepted and actually carried into effect
by all the other nations. and, in par
ticular, by the Americans. They felt
that unless the Americans made good
their promise in Prague and con-
tributed their share, the British fed
Grafton would have to bear too great
proportion OF the burden. Roughly
out OF total membership of l 800, 900
of the International Miners Fedora
ton. Great Britain furnishes 100000,
all the continental nations put to-
gether something over 100000, and
the United States between 100000 and
500. 900
Therefore, IL the Americans failed
to make their promise OF financial
help effective, Great Britain would
have some f2, 900 of the total of f3.0Op
per annum which the levy of pfen
mig is estimated to raise. That, the
British delegates felt, was not a pro-
posal the British Federation was
lik ely 10 view with favor. Their po-
sltion would, on the other hand, be
vastly different IL the Americans also
agreed to contribute their quota OF
something in the neghborhood of
1850.
Delay Hinges on America
In these circumstances it was
agreed 10 postpone the matter an
other three months. The interna-
tional committee is to meet in the
latter part of January in Hanover.
Germany. In the interval the Inter
national secretary will circularize
all affiliated federations asking them
to contribute the pfennig levy. II
the response Is universally favorable
the new international secretariat will
be set up forthwith and the full time
international secretary appointed.
The list of nominations for this post
will be closed early in January. II
the response Is inadequate the whole
situation will have to be reviewed
again.
In view Of the attitude of the Brit
ish delegation at the Brussels meet
ing, this decision practically means
that the solution Of this problem de-
pends entirely on the attitude which
the United Mine Workers of America
will take up between now and the end
of January.
Much more is at stake than the
mere question OF the establishment
Of a permanent international secre-
tariat, since this proposal was mat
ter of fact made because 1t seemed to
present the only means of escape
from a most dangerous crisis about
the person of the international secre-
tary, setting in operation the British
Federation against all the other ma
tionaf sections forming the Miners
international. II the financial scheme
Is dropped as a result Of the Amerf-
can organizations failure to con-
tribute it's share, the international
will be confronted with the original
crisis in an aggravated form.