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BOTHA'S BARBARISM.I

> y f » • THE BOOM IN BOXING.…

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IN…

ELECTORAL REFORM

NEW COMPENSATION POINTi APPEAL.

SOCIALIST UNITY IN GREAT BRITAIN

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SOCIALIST UNITY IN GREAT BRITAIN IMP0BTVNT INTERNATION- AL MANIFESTO A STRONG APPEAL I Most of our readers pill be aware that a great effort is a\ eni. lunug made to unify the r. l'ee principal Socialist organisations in Great Britain viz., the Independent Labour Party, the Fabian Society, and the British Socialist Party. Conferences have al- ready taken place, and arrangements are being made to hold further joint meetings of representatives of the three organisations to promote a basis of settlement for common action in the future. To the International Social- ist Bureau the credit is due for bring- ing this question once again to the fore, and the following manifesto, issued to the entire Socialist move- ment in Great Britain should be read with .much interest. In it they de- j clare: Comrades,— We address this manifesto to you in the name of the whole International movements When we met your delegates at the preliminary Conference on the 18th July, 1913, the Executive Committee of the International Socialist Bureau was already acting in the name of all affiliated parties, in pursuance of the Resolution of Amsterdam on Socialist unity. The International as a whole showed its desire, by the presence of all its delegates in London on 13th December, to give open approval and encouragement to our efforts in favour of the establishment of Socialist unity in Great Britain. There is no doubt that in principle all convinced Socialists* recognise the utility and the necessity of opposing to the growing concentration of the Capitalist forces the effective concen- tration of the forces of the working- class. This is proved by the fact that as long as 1904, at the Congress at Am- sterdam, the British delegates, with- out distinction of shades of opinion, unanimously adopted* ihe weii-knoirn resolution of unity, which was signed ? which was si g ne d by Bebel, Adler, Kautskv, Troelstra, and Vandervelde. The Executive Committee of the Bureau was, then, in duty bound to seize the most favourable moment for bringing about an understanding, and it cannot be reproached with having attempted the "rush" matters, since it has waited nine years before taking any action. Great Britain has presented to the world the spectacle of a country where capitalist evolution has taken place more rapidly than anywhere else. The hope was justified that Socialism would follow a similar evolution. But un- fortunately it has turned out that re- grettable differences have arisen, and even to-day it seems that in certain quarters there is more inclination to cultivate a sectarian sp rit than to maareh in common agreement against the common enemy. Sf, h a mistaken policy must not continue !• The con- sequences would be ruinous for the class-conscious proletariat, for more and more we are finding that all over the world Socialism only plays a part worthy of itself, when it is solidly united. From a practical point of view, moreover, we cannot see that the differences of outlook are greater in your country than elsewhere. Look at France. Has she not given to the Socialist world an admirable example? The French Socialists, in spite of old quarrels now forgotten, have established a powerful unified party-thus giving to all an example of political wisdom and of loyalty to the principles so solemnly affirmed by the Congresses of the International at which you were represented. Socialism must not be obscured, and h the Socialist movement biust not be hindered, even temporarily, by con- siderations of secondary importance, by personal differences, by a sectarian spirit, or by divergent conceptions of political methods. Those who are guilty in this respect commit a real crime against the working-class, for they retard the hour of complete vic- tory. The delegates of your three parties have realised this. Then unanimous vote proves* that there no longer exists any plausible reason for refusing the necessary agreement. The Executive Committee of the B.S.P. has already recommended to its members that they should affiliate to the Labour Party on condition that the Labour Party recognises their position as Socalists aiming at the abolition of Capitalism. We also appeal to our Comrades of the I.L.P. and the Fabian Society to use their influence within the Labour Party to obtain for candidates at elec- tions the right to run as Labour and Socialist candidates. The slight alter- ation in the constitution necessary for this purpose will only mean the formal recognition of what already exists in fact-the alliance of Socialism and Trade Unionism. We renew our appeal to our Com- rades of the B.S.P. to bear in mind the truth, which is recognised every- where, that Trade Union action can have no other logical issue than the (Continued at bottom of next column.)

[No title]

THE MINERS' GREAT TASK

ISENGHENYDD.

GOB FIRES IN MINES

ELECTORAL REFORM

THE MINERS' GREAT TASK

SOCIALIST UNITY IN GREAT BRITAIN