The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1949-12-01
Comment On
World Events

| WIN Cne eyes OI WOIlu ldDOi vi
the London conference called to
form a new international congress
of free trade unions, it is timely
and pertinent to recall why the
American Federation of Labor is
giving its fullest support to the
meeting. The gathering is bound
to have "a profound effect on in
ternational peace and economic
progress" in the words of AFL
President William Green.
AFL reasons for backing the
conference and the new world body
were set forth by the st. Paul con-
vention, which held that AFL re-
fusal to join the now discredited
World Federation of Trade Unions
had been amply justified by the
course of events.
The convention declared that the
annual report of the AFL execu-
tive council had given "a compre-
hensive review and correct evalua-
ton of the problems, responsible
tiles and tasks confronting Amer
lean labor in the profound realign-
ment of forces which has been go
ing on for a number of years in
the ranks of world labor"
= 4 :.
Particular convention approval
was given to the following excerpt
from the executive council report:
"The relentless fight waged by
the AFL against the creation, or
ganization and continuation of the
World Federation of Trade Unions
was not a mere negative struggle.
There can be nothing more positive
and constructive than the defeat
and eradication of destructive total
itarian elements in the body polite
of organized labor. Above all,
in furtherance of sound world
unity of free labor and genuine
international labor solidarity and
cooperation for freedom, economic
well-being, social justice and last
ing peace, we have continuously
striven for the organization of a
united world federation of free
trade unions. :"
"We recommend" the conven-
ton declared, "wholehearted ap-
proval of the fruitful efforts of the
AFL executive council, it's Inter
national Labor Relations Commit
tee, the Free Trade Union Commit
tee and the various AFL repre-
sentatives toward insuring and
speeding the breakup of the
WITH, which never was anything
but an instrument of Soviet imper-
ialism and totalitarian COmmun-
ISM"
!. \ <
Going on to further indict the
the convention said:
at would be extremely difficult
to exaggerate the damage done to
economic reconstruction in the
countries of Europe by
this tool of the Cominform at the
height of it's strength. 1t would be
dangerous folly to underestimate
the damage and sabotage that this
mlin-controlled apparatus, even
in its much weakened condition,
.an still mflict on economic restor-
alton and national security in the
Western European lands. Indeed,
,oday, there is no longer even the
slightest excuse for any self-re-
pecting free trade union organ
zation to continue affiliatiOn or
AVE anything to do with this no.
orious Russian Fifth Column
gency." I
The convention went on to APP
rove active steps taken by ALL
odies in promoting the London
declared that all affil- !
ites and members of the fedora !,
on had every reason to be proud =
the contribution made by AFL :,
elegates to the preliminary con- -
erence last June in Geneva and u
aid in conclusion: =
"To the freedom-loving workers a
all lands we pledge our full .
loral and material support in be- a
alf of making the new world labor "
Ddy not only a truly international
of free trade unions, .
ut a most powerful force for =
eaceful social progress, social y
lstice, human freedom and last :
Ig peace" u
iid DeBaca, is of importance to v