Montana labor news., 1945-02-15
THOMAS PLEA BRINGS
COMPROMISE AT
LONDON MEETING

BY HERBERT A. KLEIN
LONDON-(FP) Most dramatic mo-
men tof the World Trade Union Con-
ference to date came February when
Co-Pres. r. j. Thomas, in London only
two hours, pulled harmony out Of what
threatened to become a bitter contro-
versy.
Taking the floor shortly after he ar
rived at the conference Thomas, leader
of the CIO delegation, spoke powerfully
for harmony in an emotion-choked voice
and won unanimous acceptance Of
unity formula he devised, namely accept
ance of the entire controversial stand
ing orders committee report except foi
reference back to the committee Of two
disputed points
i. The question Of inviting to the
conference delegates Of former enemy
/ nations.
2. The question Of inviting labor
representative from liberated Polanc
under the Lublin Polish government.
Thomas proposal also provided that
the matter Of enlarging the membership
of three major conference committees
be referred to the committee themselves
British delegates had objected to omis-
sion of a representative Of the Interna-
toinal Federation Of Trade Unions from
the reconversion committee.
Included in the portion Of the report
that was unanimously accepted was the
proposal that the conference take action
and come to decisions on the matters
before it instead of making itself merely
a talk session, Consultative and adysi-
ory." as Sec. Walter Citrine of the Brit
ish Trades Union Congress had de-
manded.
The voting plan proposed by the
standing committee would grant one vote
to each delegation, large or small, thus
by-passing the objections Of newspaper
friends" of labor who kept finger
pointed at the Russian unions 27000000
members; would let any three delega-
tions call for a vote, and would commit
the conference only on motions that re-
ceived the assent of two-thirds Of all
the delegations. The one vote per dele
CATION would apply even where there are
two or more delegations from one coun-
try, such as France, which has two
groups Of unions represented.
The threat to harmony arose the day
before when Citrine strongly opposed not
only the proposal to let delegates vote
ana put the conference on record, but
the proposals as well to invite LubAn
Polish representative and delegates
from former enemy nations On the
latter point he excepted only Finland
The BTUC, Citrine said would have tc
reconsider its attitudes toward worlc
labor conferences if the present one ac-
cepted the report brought out without
dissent by the standing order commit
tee
At the Feb. 8 session, however Citrint
indicated Thomas unity plan was ac-
ceptable to the BTUC and it was adopt
ed unanimously. U. S., Soviet, French
Canadian, Chinese and Australian dele
gates supported the committees repor
completely.
Pres. John Green Of Industrial Unior
of Marine g. Shipbuilding Workers, az
chairman Of the credentials committee
reported acceptance Of credentials of lSi
delegates from 40 nations, including al
of the United Nations except those which
were represented by observers rather
than delegates.
Six delegates from Iceland, one from
Iraa. two from ireland and the Swedish
delegation, now observers, will be seate'
next week after conclusion Of discussion
on matters affecting the war. Vincent
Lombardo Toledano, delegate from th'
Confederation Of Mexican Workers, wa
also accredited as observer for labor or
carnations of other nations represented
in the Confederation Of Latin American
workers. The Bolivian Embassy was de-
MED the right to appoint an observe
/ and the committee rejected an appeal o
the Indian Federation of Labor, backeC
up by the British government, to unsea
delegates of the Au-mdia Trades Unior
Congress.