The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1949-04-14
Comment On
World Events

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The international situation con-
tinues to be highly critical. The
threat to world peace continues to
be very acute primarily as re-
suit Of the course Of imperialist
aggression pursued by totalitarian
Russia. In the furtherance Of these
policies Of Soviet aggrandizement,
the so-called World Federation Of
Trade Unions, (WFTU), today
plays more brazen and active
role than ever before. In Europe,
Asia, Africa and Latin-America,
this fifth column Of the Soviet die
tatorship is working overtime TO
prevent economic reconstruction
and promote social and political
chaos. 1t is performing every men
ial and venal task Of a Kremlin
military espionage apparatus.
In the interest of the ideals of
democratic labor, for the sake of
the wellbeing Of the workers and
the peace Of the world, the free
trade unions must be aroused to
this dire threat to human progress.
We must organize to safeguard
human liberty, assure social justice
and secure international harmony.
Only through unified active and
effective world federation of labor
can the free trade unions meet
these vital responsibilities.
!. = ;:
Regarding the above, the Inter
national Labor Relations Commit
tee recommends that the executive
council of the American Federation
of Labor, which meets in Cleveland
May 16, reaffrm it's readiness to
help build and join world fedora
tion of labor embodying the bona
fde free trade unions of all coun-
tries.
While the free trade unions of
all countries now recognize the
of their unifcation into
one world federation of labor, GER
tain indispensable preliminary tasks
remain to be fulfilled. The AFL |
cannot urge too strongly that no
effort be spared in meeting the |
tasks on a sound and |
thoroughly democratic basis. In
this light, we emphatically reaf-
firm the declaration made by the |
council Feb. q, 1949 to !
the effect that in the preparation |
for new trade union information
al there must be complete break |
with the methods of big power
politics.
Nor can we insist too strongly
on preliminary collective discuss
ions among the free trade union
of all countries-regard-
ess of their size-and on thorough
going consideration of their pro-
)osals. Likewise, the functioning
trade secretariats,
should be consulted in the negotia-
ions, and be given every encour-
agement and assistance in the new
alignment of demo-
,ratic labor. Without such truly
collective democratic preparations
10 fundamental agreement can be
attained.
= = :.
Finally, we cannot underscore
90 heavily that we are seeking the
establishment of a new free trade
lniOn international with an effic- |
ent democratic collective leader
ship, with strong autonomous in
trade secretariats =
'ather than the establishment |
If the former International FEEDER
ltion of Trade Unions. We must
lot seek a mere return to the old. |
Ne must strive for something new
md better.
We must have a genuine world
of free trade unions
"a world organization of trade |
lnions free from all control by gov
and free from all domin- |
tion and manipulation by political |
'arties and political ideologies. We |
must all learn from the mistakes
# the more distant past as well |
S from the recent tragic exper-