The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-10-10
BY HARRY PoLLlTT.
(London).

legates, representing 4 ~ million work
ers, was the most important congress
yet held. Out Of the los resolutions.
covering every conceivable subject,
four definite facts, overshadowing
everything else, emerge, and all these
have an international significance and
Importance.
1t would be very easy to place on
record where the congress failed,
what it ought to have done, the issues
it ought to have faced, but here we
are only concerned with what actually
happened at the congress.
The national minority conference,
held a week previously, had undoubt-
eddy had it's effect upon the Hull con-
gress. And though the general coun-
Gil of the congress refused to place
on the agenda any of the resolutions
passed at the minority conference and
sent on to Hull, these questions were
introduced during the various debates
that took place.
The Trade Union Congress and the
Labor Government.
There had been no attempts or pro-
vision made for discussing the policy
of the labor government during the
nine months of its existence. In the
annual report of the general council
only congratulatory reference was
made to the labor government, and a
sentence inserted declaring that it
was not the business of the trade
union congress to discuss the policy
of the government. unless it was in
relation to specific resolutions that
had been previously discussed by con-
gress. This part of the report was
contested and a debate ensued. There
was very evident strong feeling in
the congress against the labor govern
ments actions, particularly in regard
to the Dawes report; its policy during
strikes and in regard to the Dawes
report were roundly condemned, and
Robert Smillie was put up to try and
defend the government, but he was
unable to make out any defence.
When the vote took place the motion
criticizing the government was lost
but very considerable support was
gained for the motion, to the surprise
Of the general council
Turnout the week, on variety of
resolutions, many strong criticisms
were made of the labor government.
1t was easy to see how nine months
of such a government has disillu-
stoned many workers representatives
as to its attitude and policy This di-
sillusionment is also spreading
amongst the masses, but it would be
great mistake to assume that the
labor government was not still very
popular with the organized trade
union movement.
At all past congresses, a special
resolution dealing with foreign policy
has been discussed. This year the
resolution was only confined to assur-
ing the government of the support of
the congress in its intentions to carry
out the agreement with Soviet Rus
STA. Congress was unanimous on this
point, and the hands of the govern
ment in dealing with the opposition
against the treaty will be greatly
strengthened.
But the most significant thing was
the absence of any resolution con-
graduating Ramsay Macdonald on
the results achieved by him at the
London conference. At the very time
when the London conference and the
Dawes report are being claimed as
triumphs for Macdonald and the la
Dor government, the trade union con.
gress is silent, and for very signific-
ant reason. That is because the OPP
position to the Dawes report was so
strong within the congress, that had
the general council introduced a reso-
luton backing 1t up, they would have
run serious risk of it being defeat
ed; this would have been a grave
political defeat for Macdonald and
so no opportunity was given of having
a discussion on the question, but
throughout the proceedings OF the
congress many references to the
Dawes report were made, all indica-
tive Of growing opposition to this
slave plan. now hear that the mi
ners are to convene a special nation
al conference to discuss the Dawes
report, and what is to be their future
attitude to this report.
Towards National Unity
The British trade union movement
is very sectionalist. There is no CEN
trail organization backing up the
various unions in a common struggle
against capitalism. Two resolutions
that make for closer working and also
towards creating general staff were
adopted at the congress. The first
resolution makes II the duty OF the
general council Of the T. U. G. to pre-
pare a scheme for the adoption OF the
principle of organization by industry.
AT present there are over 100 unions
in Britain, all overlapping, jealous OF
each others rights, constantly quarrel.