The daily worker., 1925-05-13


After long and serious discussion,
negotiation and exchange of docu-
ments, an agreement was reached,
which will be recommended to the
respective councils of the Russian
and British unions. If adopted it will
change the relations of capital and
labor thruout the world, and this fact
is already sensed by the British and
other great capitalist powers ruling
classes, all Of whom have at once
launched world drive to check the
westward wave of revolutionary la
Dor from it's tower of strength in Sow
let Russia.
The text Of the agreement follows:
The Agreement.
IL. The joint conference afirms
that national and international unity
must be recognized as the first essen
tial condition to enable the trade un-
ion movement to defend effectively
the present position of the workers
against attack and to achieve the So
cial and political aims Of organized
labor as set forth in the declarations
made by the workers of many coun-
tries.
Reaction Dominant.
"2. The political situation in near
ly every so-called civilized country is
dominated by reaction and in many
countries the increased power of CO.
ordinated capitalist interests is evi-
dent. This is shown by the contin-
ued persecution of leading trade un-
ionists who in the exercise of class
prejudice on the part of employing
interests are suspected, prosecuted,
thrown into Jail and even tortured by
those in power.
"3. In the industrial and economic
field the capitalists of all countries
are forming their united front-a
united front for the exploitation of
workers all over the world. The work
ers in the meantime remain divided,
and in some countries are formed
into antagonistic groups. Instead of
being employed in the task of defense
against capitalist aggression they are
plunged into bitter quarrels and dis
sensions.
Workers Advantage Lost.
"a. In nearly every country, in
consequence of the growing power of
the capitalist class and the lack of
unity among the workers, advantages
gained in the direction of reduced
hours of labor and increased wages
have been lost. Where the S-hour day
has not been abolished, it is inn
perilled. In many industries the hours
of labor have once more reverted to
nine, ten, or even more hours per
day. and it is only in countries where
the trade union movement is strong
is maintained.
Unemployment, Despair and Degrad-
alton.
"5. Thru the economic paralysis of
Europe caused by the world war, mil
lions of workers are unemployed and
with their families are being driven
into the depths OF despair, starvation
and degradation. Wages, never suf-
ficient to maintain a decent standard
Of life for the workers, have been re-
duced by 20 per cent, 30 per cent,
and in some cases over 40 per cent.
The standard Of living In many eoun-
tries Is now below pre-war level.
"6 The hope of better times which
avfcfad among fha xt,nriyarg obo,tIxv oP
ter the great world war and which
they were led by unscrupulous poll
ticians TO believe would be the result
of their enormous sacrifices, has now
disappeared, and given place to de-
spair. The pledges of politicians and
the promises of capitalists during the
war and directly after ii, have been
cynically repudiated.
"The blind faith that inspired the
workers to fight for respective gov
ernments in the universal catastrophe
in which millions of their class were
killed and manned, has been shatter-
ed. After the greatest sacrifices and
the severest sufferings they are now
faced with little prospect of a better
life for the workers.
New War Preparing.
81. Already II would appear that
a new war, more terrible, more mon
strous than anything known hitherto
is being prepared. New weapons Of
destruction are being devised: the
chemists and scientific thinkers OF
European countries are devoting their
knowledge and skill TO the task OF
inventing new weapons OF torture and
destruction for use not only against