Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-14
NEW EPOCH SEEN
IN LEAGUE HISTORY
London Views Germany's En-
try as Opening Way for
Lasting Work.
BY A. G. GARDINER.

BY RADIO TO Inc ctdr.
LONDON. September 14.-After a
period of comparative stagnation. in
which sports have sometimes provided
the chief items of news. the domestic
scene has once more become active
and the past week has been full of
significant events.
Overshadowng all others was the
admission of Germany into the League
of Nations. 1t is. perhaps, an eXag.
seration to say, as one journalist has
said, that the event was the most
suspicious happening since the arms
tice. There have been events more
dramatic and more sensational But
II marks definitely a new epoch.
Everywhere there is profound salts
faction that the League has ceased to
he league of victors and has become
genuine league of nations.
New Difficulties Possible.
Nobody is under the delusion that
the mere admittance of Germany will
prove A solvent of all difficulties. On
the contrary it is realized that that
fact itself may give rise to new diff
fculties. but it is felt that for the
first time since it's inception, the
League has a chance for good work
ing conditions, under which genuine
ly useful and lasting work is possible.
The coal strike continues. but ap-
parently the government now is intent
on peace and is not relaxing it's eff
forts to secure a reopening of nego-
tiations between the miners and the
owners. Following receipt of A letter
from Secretary Cook of the miners
federation declaring the miners were
ready to discuss reduction Of costs,
Chancellor of the Exchequer Churchill
arranged to meet the leaders of
the mine owners and strongly urged
them to renew discussions. They
protested they no longer had author
ity TO do this. but after pressure from
Mr.. Churchill consented to place the
matter before the district associa tons.
Meanwhile. Mr.. Churchill followed
up his interview with a letter suggest
Ing a conference and the lines of a
settlement, and declaring that it was
time to abandon formalities, get down
to business and make new arrange
ment. 1t is rumored that if this move
fails the government intends to adopt
coercive mea sures.
Strike Idea Submerged.
The Trade Union Congress sitting
At Bournmouth this week has been
more than usually important. AL
though direct discussion of the gen
eral strike was vigorously suppressed.
this event and it's subsequent effects
has been the underlying theme
throughout the congress.
In the presidential address, Chair
man Arthur Pugh referred to the
strike a great spontaneous mani
fiesta ton of working class solidarity.
and said it was weapon which would
not be allowed to rest unused should
occasion foe its use arise.
Subsequent speeches, however, ten
dered to show that nothing was fur
ther from the minds of British trade
unionists than to have recourse to that
wea pom any more. Significant of this
was the rejection of a resolution call
ing for the amalgamation Of all
unions into one big union. Still more
significant was the rejection of
much more important resolution. con-
ferring greater powers on the gen
eral council Speeches on this by
prominent leaders evidenced an un-
rista kable reaction from the general
strike policy.
Expresses Contempt for Weapon.
c. T. Cramp. until recently leader of
the Left. referred contemptuouslN to
what he called the ancient and
mouldy weapon of the general strike.
II was quite clear that whatever may
have been said by leaders with
record to defend, a lesson has been
learned which will not soon he for
gotten.
The proceedings of the congress
were enIivened on Thursday by pub
lication of an astonishing message
from NJ. Tomsk. fraternal delegate
from the Russian unions. who was
excluded by a decision OF the home
secretary. The message was A hec
toring lecture to the British working
classes on the folly of their leaders.
II discussed the strategy of the gen.
eral council and roundly declared that
hut for the coWardice and treaCherN
~ their leaders. British workers now
would he as free AS their comrades in
Russia. j. n. Thomas. head of the
railway workers. was singled out par
ticularlv as a traitor and denounced
as the instigator of defeat
Beyond protesting against this
abuse OF the courtesy extended fra
ternal delegates. the general council
has made no reply TO the amazing
document. Diminishing it contemptu-
ously as ill-instructed and presumptu-
Gus. But 1t may be taken for granted
that the incident marks the end, for
the time being. of any attempt at a
rapproachment between British and
Russian trade unions.
(COnVright 1925