The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-01

of activities to be carried out by each
of it's twenty-three centers.
"There were, first of all, series of
studies projected dealing with the
problem of industrial councils, hours
of work and economic policy. While
these studies at the moment will have
to be postponed, it disclosed the range
of activities which the International
Federation of Trades Unions is pre-
pared to explore.
"It was on the question of the de-
fense of peace that there developed
considerable discussion and subsequent
sharp division Of opinion.
"For the defense of peace issue
was involved with the admission of
the Russian trades unions to member
ship in the International Federation
of Trade Unions.
"In order to make the position of
the American Federation of Labor un-
equivocally clear, President Green
sent to the International Federation
of Trade Unions a letter indicating
the unqualified opposition of the
American Federation of Labor to the
admission of the Russian trade unions.
"Robert j. Watt was directed to
represent the Federation at Zurich by
President Green and to present the
letter.
"After debate on this question of
the admission of the Russian trade
) union membership, the Congress fin
ally voted down the proposal for the
admission of the Russian delegate
and adopted the proposal as presented
by the United States delegate which
recommended that they discontinue
further negotiations with the Russians
in line with the action taken at the
!, Oslo meeting the previous year.
"Your committee wishes to extend
to the American Federation of Labor
,, and to Mr.. Watt, the representative
of the Federation at Zurich, Switzer-
! land, their appreciation for the faith
full way in which they have carried
out what is the declared will of this
+ + Federation. For it must be clear te
! the delegates to this convention that
the Russian trade unions are not only
subservient to the Soviet Government
but are pawns of the state. Wher
: the Soviets made their cowardly at
y tack upon the Polish Republic ant
) virtually obliterated the Republic o-
Estonia under pretext of a mutua
assistance pact, the Russian trade
unions were silent. The Internationa
Federation of Trades Unions can no
= compromise with relationships ol
! unions existing under relationships.
e "Free trade unions have the privi
ege Of criticizing their governments
n and they exercise a much-needed func
It tion.' The International Federation o
e Trade Unions wants only such unions
h in it's membership.
7. "The decision on the part of tn
e International Federation of Trade
h Unions to consult the four nationa
t. affiliated centers of North and Sout
g, America, the United States, Canada
Mexico, and the Argentine, about tn
g increase in the number of vice -presi
S, dents from five to six is matte
1T that should be carefully considered b
the Executive Council, and we rec
p ommend that the general procedur
r. be followed.
a. at was the hope Of the Interna
+. tional Federation Of Trades Union
it that they might meet in the Unite
ly States in October of this year. Th
Sh has become impossible because of tn
ry involvement of many of the nations
the European War. Your committe
recommends to this convention ths
: the International Federation of Trade
in Unions be invited to hold its regula
ne executive meeting in this country d
soon as the international tensio
,e makes it feasible American labC
% would have the |. f. II. u. know whs
IN it is to be a free trade union move
A. ment under democratic government