The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-05-09
THE LONDON CONFERENCE
OF NEGRO WORKERS

of the role of the socialist parties as one OF
oppression of the natives in the colonies
Mary Burroughs spoke of the conditions of
Negro workers in America and the role of the
American Federation of Labor.
Reports of Delegates.
Most interesting was the report of john
stone Kenyatta of East Africa on conditions
in East Africa. He told of how the native
workers have had their land taken from them,
how they are denied any educational advan-
tages, how the white colonists use young ma
tive girls as concubines, how the British shot
down 20 defenseless natives who were making
a plea for the release of one of their leaders
who had been exiled. He said that there are
many R. R. workers in East Africa, but that
the problems of the natives was essentially
land problem.
Other speakers told of conditions of Negroes
in the Belgium Congo, West Africa, Haiti and
the United States j. BALKAN of the Trade
Union Unity League told of the program of
organization outlined by the TUUL for or
ganizing Negro workers in the United States.
Rebukes Lynchings in U. S. A.
On the second day, ]. W. Ford, chairman,
outlined a program of trade union organiza-
ton for Negro workers and suggested the call
ing of an International Conference of Negro
workers; he also spoke of the war danger and
Negro toilers This suggestion was received
with great enthusiasm by the delegates and a
long discussion took place. Sakalatvala sug-
gested that since a great number of Negro
worker toilers are under the British Empire
such conference should be called in London,
England. This suggestion was well received
by all the delegates. Comrade Ali of France,
however, put in plea for Paris. But we
were reminded that the French authorities
had already prevented the holding of the
League Congress at Paris.
Many points of aid and suggestion were
brought to US from fraternal representa-
tives of China and the white movements of
Europe. At our second meeting Sen Kata-
yama, an old Japanese trade union veteran,
and at one time a resident of America, at
tended eur meeting and spoke about lynchings
IN America.
Election of Provisional Committee.
The conference then decided to elect Pro-
visional international Trade Union Committee
of Negro workers with J. W. Ford as chair
man and gave him instructions to proceed with
the converting of an International Conference
of Negro workers in London, England on July
1st 1880. -----4
Thus the organizational plans for the con-
vening of this historic conference were made
on July 26th, 1929, at Frankfort, Germany.
The plans for this conference are now under
full swing. The Negro toilers have many prob
lens to discuss at this conference and an his
toric task to perform.
1. Report of the International Trade Union
Committee of Negro Workers
2. The economic struggles and tasks of the
working Negroes.
8. The struggle against forced labor and
poll tax.
a. The danger of war and working Negroes.
These and other points will be the main
points of discussion at the conference.
The Provisional International Trade Union
Committee will in the next few weeks con-
duct series of nationwide mass meetings
amongst the Negro toilers for the nomination
and election of Negro delegates to the Lon
don Conference Of Negro workers.