The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-05-19
A.F.L. Will Resign If
international Takes
In Russian Unions
Question Being Considered
Now At Oslo Meeting

Now At Oslo Meeting
The General Council meeting of the
international Federation of Trade
Unions which opened at Oslo, Norway,
May 16,l is considering the question
of affliation of the Trade Union
Centre of the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics with the International Fed
Grafton, with which the American Fed
Grafton of Labor is affiliated.
Matthew Woll, third vice president
of the American Federation of Labor
is representing the A. F. Of l.. at the
Oslo meeting.
The question of the affiliation of the
Russian Trade Unions has been be-
fore the Executive of the l. F. T. U.
for number of months. The pro-
posed affiliation was disapproved by
the Executive early this year, but
only temporarily, final determination
being reserved for the Oslo meeting.
AffiliatiOn Opposed by A. F. of l..
Executive Council
The Executive Council of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor has already
voiced its opposition to accepting the
Russian Communist Trade Union Cen
ire as member of the l. +. r. u. Al
it's Winter meeting in Miami, Fla.
January "a to February %, 1888, the
Council considered the proposed affili
alton and decided that if the Com
munist trade union movement OF
Soviet Russia is admitted into the In
ternational Federation of Trade
Unions the A. F. of l.. twill feel com
PEELED to withdraw" from the l. F. T
U.
The Executive Council authorized
President William Green of the Ameri
can Federation of Labor, to transmi
the Federations views to Sir Waltel
Federation of Trade Unions and sec
retary of the British Trade Uniol
Congress.
Executive Councils Statement
Following is the statement of thu
position of the American Federation
of Labor which Mr. Green sent to Mr.
Citrine:
Hc IJhSCullNc 1OulCu VI LHt
American Federation of Labor is glat
to learn that the plan of admitting thu
sO-called unions of Soviet Russia tt
the International Federation of Trade
Unions has been disapproved by th'
executive committee of the Interna
tional Federation of Trade Unions a
least for the time being.
at appears, however, that the re
lection of the project at this time ha
not been based upon the principl
which is involved but only upon ger
tain conditions which the RussiaHDr
ganizations had attached to the pro
posal. We, therefore feel it our dut
to declare ourselves unequivocall
against the proposal.
Russian Unions Do Not Have Real
Freedom
"Suffcient ground for our objectio
is found in the fact that the Russia
organizations in question are not trad
unions in the sense that term bears j
every democratic country which
has always and everywhere borne III
til the rise of relationships since tn
World War. They have no more free
dom Of action than have the offici;
organizations commonly known g
Labor Fronts in Italy, Germany, an
Austria. Like these, they are in, G.
feet only part of the administratil
machinery Of the dictatorial regime.
"Free trade unions and govern
tally controlled labor fronts are g
incompatible as are democracy an
dictatorship in the State. The a
tempt to combine them in one worl
federation can result only in confusion
internal strife and disaster. RI
American Federation of Labor wi
take no part in such suicidal ventur
A. +. of l.. Is Committed to Free
Trade UniOnism
"OrganiZed labor in the Unite
States is firmly committed to IL
maintenance Of free trade unionism
well as of freedom on the polite
field. 1t has already suffered too mu(
at the hands of advocates or agents
the relationships to be blind to IL
danger involved in any compromi!
with them.
"Should the Russian organization
become part of the Information
Federation of Trade Unions we ha,
no doubt that the American Feder
ton of Labor will feel compelled
withdraw. 1t would deeply regr
such breaking of the bonds that co
meet it with trade unionism beyor
the sea. We earnestly hope that tt
occasion will not rise"