The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-03-06
COMMENT ON WORLD
EVENTS


Sr waiter OlCrlne, general Secre-
tary of the British Trades Union Con-
gress is quoted in dispatches from
London as having said that American
Federation of Labor leaders had told
him they were ready to give up the
right to strike, eff the Government
will set up the proper machinery for
the adjustment of disputes"
Sir Walter, who had just returned
from a visit of several months to the
United States, broadcast review of
the American labor situation in it's
relation to the British war effort.
If Citrine was quoted correctly in
the London dispatches, he must have
misunderstood what he was told here.
American labor leaders have given
not the slightest indication they will
surrender the right to strike. On the
contrary, they have declared their de-
termination to fight anti-strike pro-
posals with every means in their
power.
In taking this stand in behalf of
a fundamental right, they have been
backed by the overwhelming body of
American labor Of all factions.
x X X
American labor has, however, de-
clared its opposition to strikes in de-
fense industries except where condi-
tions become completely unbearable.
To make effective this stand, labor
has adopted no-strike policies for de-
fense production, with A. F. of l..
metal and building trades unions set
ting up procedures for conciliation
and voluntary arbitration.
The A. F. of l.. no-strike policies
will undoubtedly be factor in United
States provision of decisive aid for
Great Britain in the production of
war materials-aid which Citrine re-
ported on his return to England would
be apparent by next September.
1t should be of interest to all shades
of opinion here that Sir Walter said
he found the people Of the United
States, whom he addressed on So oc
casions in clubs, universities and at
public meetings definitely opposed to
entering the war"
X X X
The part that American industrial
production will play in British victory
is emphasized not only by Sir Walter
Citrine but by another prominent
British trade union leader, Ernest
Bevin, Minister of Labor. In special
cablegram to the American FEEDER
ationist, official A. F. Of l.. organ,
Bevin pays tribute to American la
Dor for its support of Great Britain's
fight against Hitler and declares this
support has greatly heartened Britain
in its resistance to Nazi tyranny.
Bevin points out that it is useless
to underestimate the Nazi power,
emphasizing that Hitler has subjected
millions of people to his will, creating
vast arsenal and utilizing the labor
of nearly 200,000,000 people.
Against this great population sub
ject to Nazi control, Bevin says there
is only a working population of IT,,
COO,0O0 in the British Isles.
at is the limitation of our pro-
ductive capacity which gives the en-
emy momentary superiority" says
Bevin. "Therefore, when we learn that
the mighty American productive ca
pacity, together with the will Of the
American labor movement, is going to
throw its full weight into providing
the equipment necessary to win this
battle for freedom, it stimulates us,
heartens the men in the forces and
makes us all feel that we are fighting
for a greater thing than our own
country-that we are spending our en-
ergy to win a great victory for free
dom of the soul"