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Labour Notes.-I
Labour Notes. I THE SWISS CONFERENCE. I Arrangements for the International Confer- -encc in "Switzerland are now going much more smoothlv. In addition to the del egates of whom we had information last week we may mention the following interesting figures. The Bavarian delegation will include Kurt Eisner. the present, head of the Government, as well as I £ j?hronbaeh and Trailer. Kautsky will repre- sent German-Austria, and probably Landsberg and Bernstein will be added to the delegates from Germany. The presence of Bernstein will be of special interest. He is one of the most notable Revisionists in the Social Democratic Party, was a. steadfast opponent of the war, and a member of the Independent Section. He has, however, recently come over to the Majority Socialists, not because he has changed his opinion about the war, but because he believes in the establishment of a Socialist Government on the same lines as they have advocated. The Dnth delegates will include Troelstra, who was a short time ago refused passports to attend the Labour Party Conference in this country. It is interesting to note that the only country which is sending a woman delegate, with the exception of Great Britain, which is sending two, is Denmark, who will have four representa- tives, including Miss Bang. ONE BIC UNION. During last summer and autumn there was considerable discussion of the principle of one big union for Australia. This has received very large support and has now been adopted by the Inter-State Conference of trade unions, while in New Zealand it is being discussed. The name chosen is the Industrial Workers' Union of Aus- tralia. It will be remembered that at the last British Trades' Union Congress Mr. Ogden, in his presidential address, put in a plea for this principle to be applied to British Trade Union- ism. SUPPRESSION OF FRENCH TRADE UNION ACTION. The French Government, whose Premier, M. "Oemeneeau, la.st week stopped a strike in Paris by treating the workers as conscripts (in the same manner as M. Briand did in 1912), have now arrested M. Midol, the Railwaymen's Secretary. Further, they have ordered the ar- rest of the officials of the Railwaymen's Union, who organised the one-minute strike which was carried out on the Southern railways as a de-i monstration of power and solidarity. It seems rerv unfortunate that M. Clemenceau, the Pre- sident of the Allied Peace Con ference, should so signally suppress the action of Labour at a time when an International Labour Charter (in- cluding the JRight to Strike) is actually under d i scussion. THE INDIAN COTTON STRIKE. The news about the Indian Cotton Strike is no better. Following on last week's news of the firing on pickets and police conferences with the cotton owners, the Mill-owners' Associa- tion have now published a manifesto in which they say, with great simplicity, that the work- men had formulated no grievance before they left work, and that, therefore, their demand for increased wages must be considered in the na- ture of an afterthought. Further, they argue in the time-honoured manner of Prussians, that it would bo subversive of discipline if the mill- owners granted any concessions before the oper- atives resumed work." The Governor has come out on the side of the Mill-owners' Association by advising the operatives to unconditional sur- render, with a promise that the owners will sym- pathetically consider their demands. THE EMANCIPATION OF WOMEN. The Executive of the Labour Party has agreed to a draft of a new Women's Emancipation Act, and it is hoped that the Parliamentary La- bour Party will have an opportunity to intro- duce it in the new session. The object of the Bill is to abolish certain restraints and disabili- ties now imposed upon women to which men are not liable, and its effect would be enable women to hold any civil or judicial office, "or place of profit or trust under His Majesty, his heirs, and successors, or under any authority or body corporate- or unincorporaetd, deriving powers directly or indirectly from any Act of Parliament, Order in Council, charter, or fran- chise whatsoever." It further allows for an amendment of the Representation of the People Act. IBIS, which would give a woman precisely the same .rights as are given to men under that Statute. The Bill should meet with no opposi- tion in the House, since the Prime Minister in his manifesto to the nation declared himself in favour of equality under the law for men and women. A WARNINC TO WOMEN WORKERS. I The Standing Joint Committee of Industrial Women's Organisations has issued a special warning to women workers with regard to a new organisation with the misleading title of "The Women's Industrial League," which has Lady Rhondda as its President. Its organisers are making great efforts to get women workers to become members. Ostensibly the objects of the League are to protect women's interests in industry, and to gain equal pay for equal work with men, and also equal opportunities. It is- sues literature calling upon women in industry TO organise, and then offers them membership at L a year. It appears to work in close co- operation with employers, who allow its officers to speak to the women within their works. The Standing Joint Committee cautions women not to nil 'i sta 11 o this body for a trade union, and points out to them that it would not have any power to help them in the ways it suggests. It can neither take part in negotiations as a trade union, nor can it give benefits or legal protec- tion. In short, it is a propaganda body on sex-war lines, and it is certainly not free from political bias, since it issued a statement during the General Election urging the claims of the Coalition. WHY NOT HERE? I The Industrial League lia-ve done at least one good thing. They have^jj^ilated averages of wages in the United States and the United Kinoxlom for four trades, and have set them out In tabular form. The figures are taken from the publications of the Ministry of Labour and relate to February, 1918:— Trade.. U.K. U.S. s. d. s. d. Hosiery 26 2 47 1 Woollen 31 5 59 4 Boot and Shoe. 34 4 63 2 (Cotton. 22 6 54 2 In that month the cost of living had risen in the United Kingdom by 107 per cent., and in America was about 50 per cent, higher than here, it will be seen that in February, 1918, living in the United States was about 22 per cent. more costly than living here. Yet the average wage in these four trades was 85 per ."ent. higher in America than here. Why? THE AMERICAN PRESS CENSORSHIP. We are told that there was no Press Censor- ship in America, during the war. and that when copies of the New York Call and other American Labour and Socialist papers failed to appear it was all due to the wickedness of Ger- man submarines. Now the true stories are gra- dually leaking out. There is no Press Censor- ship in America but the Postmaster-General can prevent the transmission of any paper of which he does not Like the language or policy. Thus the Masses was suppressed for an ar- ticle containing criticisms of the Administra- tion; practically all the Socialist papers in America have been suppressed. The N ew York Call continues to come out, with inter- val s of compulsory silence, though its export to Europe is prohibited—a misfortune which was for some time shared by the highly respect- able New York Nation." The climax was reached, however, when a Labour paper was suppressed for reprinting an article from the Manchester Guardian." On representation being made, the Postmaster-General, whose eyes, so far from being on the ends of the earth, are fixed on the Manchester which is situated in the American State of Vermont, replied, "Then I'll suppress the 'Manchester Guardian' too." So far, however, he has not done this.. I DISSATISFACTION IN SOUTH AFRICA. The enormous increase in public expenditure is causing a certain amount of dissatisfaction in South Africa. In voicing this recently, Mr. Mer- riman took occasion to point out that in Eng- land, too, the financial difficulties would be hard to meet, and that the abdication of the House of Commons from the control of the public purse had made it. no better. These Dominion criticisms of our home policy or conditions come, though very seldom, in the Press cablegrams, but they are interesting when they do come, as indicating exactly what diversity of view is oc- curring in the various parts of the Empire. HOME RULE FOR CATALONIA. It appears that the question of Home Rule for Catalonia. (of which the principal town is Ik rcelona), is rapidly becoming critical. In the past there have been repeated movements towards separatism centring round Barcelona. The present situation, which is somewhat similar to the lrish problem, has arisen from the refusal of the Spanish Sortcs to grant anything more than a measure of decentralisation. The Cata- lans have this further reason for demanding autonomy—that, in many ways, they are the most, advanced members of the Spanish nation. It will be remembered that Senor Ferrer, whose judicial murder some years ago so aroused fierce indignation amongst democrats throughout Europe, carried out his lifework in Barcelona. A NEW ACTIVITY FOR SHOP STEWARDS. The Sheffield Workers' Committee is said to be organising a series of meetings, chiefly in the open-air, to advocate amongst other things domestic service on the f4sis of an eight-hour day, with a minimum payment of 8d. per hour. This his created a tremendous flutter in the dovecotes of the "Sheffield Daily Telegraph," which although it has not hitherto enjoyed any intimate knowledge" of the Sheffield i "'ork(\rs' Committee, yet says with horror that, in the event- of this proposal being adopted, the wages of domestic servant5? would reach the im- possible figure of 32/- per week, which would render domestic service a luxury to be enjoyed only bjytlie very few. It i.s interesting to learn from the unimpeach- able authority of the "Times" that there are only 20,000 mistresses seeking servants, while of the discharged women 20,000 have registered themselves at Labour Exchanges as seeking em- ployment in domestic service. There may per- haps be something in the workers' unreasonable contention that the conditions of domestic ser- vice are not tempting if out of 20,000 mistresses and 20,000 maids so few can strike a bargain. THE A.U.C.E. AND THE C.W.S. During the last month, at a number of C. W.S. divisional meetings held in different parts of the country, the well-known Plymouth resolu- tion was carried by varying majorities. This resolution provides that the C. W.S. should only employ persons who were members of a trade union eligible for affiliation to the Trade Union Coftgress, and covering the whole* of the mem- ber's occupation. No general order has as yet been issued to the employees of co-operative societies, but the A. U .C. E. Executive have is- sued a circular to all employees in the service of the C.W.S., stating that the A.U.C.E. is al- ready the Union covering the whole of their trade or calling, inasmuch as the ranks arc O'Il to all employees in flour mills, soap works, jam and biscuit factories, to warehouse workers. salesmen, clerks, and workers in similar occu- pations, whether in co-operative or private trade. The circular also states that the A.U.C.E. is. and always has been, eligible for member- ship of the Trades Union Congress, that it left tile Congress of its own accord as a protest against the persecuting methods of certain other unions representative s, and that by reason of the strength of its organisation it is better able than any o-her union to secure trade union wages and conditions in the co-operative service. MINERS' AND WAR TAXATION. The Council of the Derbyshire Miners' Asso- ciation have passed the following resolution Tliat having regard to the promise made by responsible Ministers of State during the recent General Election, that war indemnities would he recovered and Germany made to pay our war costs, we call upon the Government at once to cancel all war taxation, both direct and indirect, by reverting to the pre-war econ- omic income-tax limit, and to reduce the rate of tax to its pre-war amount, taking off the tax on food imposed for war purposes. We advi se our members and all other workers to refuse to pay any further war taxes, and we instruct our men to cease collecting the same." CORRECTION. I In the note on Russian Governments sent out. last week, the Ormsk Government was wrongly described as belonging to the party of Bolshevik Governments. This should have been Anti-Bol- shevik Governments. A short time ago it was mainly composed of the Socialist Revolutionary Wing, but it is now a Military Government un- der General Kolteliak. THE FUSION OF FORCES. I With the object of a still closer welding of tiie trade union and co-operative forces a joint conference of the two movements wa.s held in London on Saturday, January 25th. Mr. A. C. Bum presided over an attendance comprising 9,50 di elegates. It was the largest gathering of the kind w hich has assembled in the Metropolis. ihree resolutions were unanimously passed. These urged a further development of the co- operative movement; the securing of a majority of seats on the L.C.C. and Metropolitan Bor- ough Councils for trade unionists and CO-OJKM- ators of both sexes; the consolidation of forces for the control of industry. It was further de- cided that a Joint Council* should be established (Continued at foot of next column).
[No title]
Correspondents are requested to condense I their letters as much as possible. MR. EDWARDS CORRECTS THE "OVER- SEAS BOYS." I" A CROSS TRAVESTY OF HIS REMARKS." We have received the following interesting letter from Mr. Hugh Edwards' solicitor, re- specting our report of the written enquiry sub- mitted to the Rink meeting hy some ex-service men on the Sunday following Mr. Edwards' visit here. As we pointed out in tha.t issue, the letter was the sincere interpretation that the ex-sol- diers placed upon Mr. Edwards' words, an in- terpretation that is difficult to understand if he was so careful in his sentences as is herein claimed I TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—The attention of Mr. Hugh Edwards, M.P., lias been drawn to a statement published in the current issue of your journal under the heading of "The things they say, which pur- port,s to give an extract from the speech which he recently delivered at the Drill Hall, Mer- thyr. I am instructed by my client that the statement is a gross travesty of his remarks. He did not say that "Messrs. Ramsay Macdonald, Philip Snowden an d Arthur Henderson voted against the resolution for freeing the pensions of sailors and soldiers from taxation." What Mr. Hugh Edwards said was that in the divi- sion for exempting the pensions from taxation only four Labour members voted in favour of it, and that lie found on reference to the divi- sion list that the names of Messrs. Ramsay Mac- donald, Philip Snowden and Arthur Henderson were absent from the division. As you will see, that is quite a different statement from that ascribed to him in your columns. Nor did he say, as stated by your correspondent, that Mr. Arthur Henderson voted in a division against a pension of thirty shillings for disabled sailors and soldiers. Anyone acquainted with the facts would know that no such division ever took place in Parliament. J.H. Edwards simply re- ferred to the statement publicly made by Sir Griffith Boscawen, M.P., the Pai-liatiientir3- Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions, that the recommendation of the Ministry of Pensions to the Cabinet for a minimum pension of thirty shillings was referred by the Cabinet to the decision of Mr. Arthur Henderson and that he had turned it down, according to Sir Griffith Boscawen, in favour of twenty-seven shillings and sixpence. Mr. Edwards in his speech made it quite clear that lie was quoting Sir Griffith Boscawen's statement and he explicitly added that the authority for the statement was that of Sir Griffith Boscawen. As you will therefore see, the statement ascribed to Mr. Edwards in your columns is a gross perversion of what he said, and it can only be due either to crass stu- pidity or to deliberate misrepresentation. In view of the seriousness of the matter, I am instructed to seek of you to give the same pro- minence, in your next issue, to this communi- cation and to ask you for a withdrawal of the false statements attributed to my client.—Yours truly, MATTHEW ARNOLD. 11 Parade Buildi Neath, 30th January, 1918.
THE RINK MEETINCS. ,-I
THE RINK MEETINCS. I TO THE EDITOR. I Dear Sir,—Having read with dismayed inter- est the letters emanating from the pen of Enthusiast who, r take it for granted, is imbued with that fervour which is the result of theological nightmares, would you be so good as to allow me a little space in our worthy paper, to protest against the selfish attitude which he has taken up. Inasmuch as lie has ha.s shown Ills hostility to the time at which the Rink meetings start, hy protesting in the "Pioneer," may I point out to him that he should in the first place, have lodged or sent a protest to the promoters of the meetings—-the Merthyr I.L.P. However, being a Socialist of a type who are not looked upon with favour in this district, F would remind him that no person who considers himself a Socialist would dare think of venting such trivial grievances. I doubt whether lie is a Socialist. I certainly know that he is not_im- buecl with the revolutionary aspirations of the proletariat, otherwise he would not be in such a hurry to listen to stories told over and over for nearly 2,000 years. If he is a Socialist, he should be aware that Socialism exists for the overthrow" of "class" domination and for the economic and political emancipation of the toil- ing masses. Further, were he in possession of a keen intellect, he would readdy perceive by almost every day occurrences, that the Press, the Pulpit, the Judiciary, and the whole govern- mental machine In all it,s ramifications are solid against tho proletariat.—I am, yours etc., J. OSBORNE. I 10 Mount St!-<?t. The Quar. I
HANDS OFF RUSSIA.I
HANDS OFF RUSSIA. I TO THE EHITOB. I sir,—Mr. R. C. Wallhead is under a misap- preliens i <)7i that T ace, prehension that T accused him of whitewashing Miliukoff in my letter of January 8th. I mad e no such assertion. If he will re-read my letter he will see I referred to Kerensky only as ro- gards the whitewashing process. Mr. Wall- head's description of Miliukoff as a Oapitalis- {mperialist burning to keep the compact made by the defunct Czar's Government with the En- tente Powers is quite true. It is also true that his policy was likewise the policy of the Provi- sional Government and the Coalition Govern- ment which succeeded it. As regards the former, controlled by Miliu- koff's party, the Cadets, Lenin wrote in July, 1917: "Having thus seized the power the Cadets spared no efforts to continue the war." As re- gards the latter, Lenin wrote: Meanwhile the revolutionary democrat' Kerensky was brilliantly accomplishing at the front the coun- ter-revolutionary task of resuming the war. Kerensky was intoxicated with his own t'lo- quence the imperialists who used him burned incense to him. And all this for his loyal, .devoted service to the capitalists—exhorting the revolutionary armies' to consent to a renewal of a war avowedly waged to conquer Constanti- I nOl}le and Lemberg, etc., for the Russian capi- t t a IS s,
ICO-OPERATION AND JOINT CONTROL.
I CO-OPERATION AND JOINT CONTROL. TO TIW. KDITOlt. Dear Sir.-Your remarks in last week's issue on Joint Control in Co-operation appear at a very opportune time. We are witnessing at the present time a ter- rible conflict between Labour and vested inter- ests in this country, and to me there appears to he but one solution—and that is Co-operation. By Co-operation the working classes have de- monstiated their ability to carry on the trade of the country in a manner that gives the great- est satisfaction to all concerned, but., I must not forget that the question you referred to was Amalgamation, not Co-operation. Well, sir, to me they are one and the same thing. The three societies you refer to arc a credit to the workers of this Borough, and I sincerely hope that the Societies as we know them to-day are only the nucleus of much greater things. There is in this Borough ample room for ex- pansion, and what we have to consider is how best can we bring about that expansion. I am convinced that much more can be done than is the case to-day, and I say definitely that it is our duty to those we represent, that we should be as economical as we possibly can be with the means at our disposal. Le-t us look at this quest-ion of a bakery from a common-sense standpoint. If, as is suggested, the three societies you mention each require a bakery III the near future, then I am prepared to say candidly that to put up three whero one would suffice, would be a great waste of the means at our disposal, and I do not think that any argument can be produced that would justify the enormous expenditure required for the erec- tion of three bakeries. v The positioh in Dowlais is such that a bakery must lie erected in the near future, and it is naturally going to cost thousands of pounds. Al- ready they have purchased a farm of 60 acres, which contains au ideal site for a bakery. In fact, the farm was purchased for the purpose of securing this site, and now that it belongs to Co-operators we should spare no efforts in lay- ing it out to the best advantage. By amalga- mation in this and other anticipated ventures, the burden could be distributed as to give the greatest possible fluidity to the funds at the disposal of the different societies. In conclu- sion I wish it to be fully understood that mv remarks are an expression of my own personal opinion, and if you have the necessary space to allow it, I should like to have an expression of opinion from our friends at Merthyr and Tre- liarris. fn Co-operation there is no room for selfish prejudices, and if such exist, they should be kept under control. A true spirit of Co-opera- tion should be allowed to prevail, so that even- tually we shall obtain the greatest good for th • greatest number.-S-Yours, etc., THOS. I). HOBBY. Pant, Dowlais. rOwing to pressure on space we are reluctantly compelled to hold over until next week several letters, including one from Mr. Arthur Escott on the Llantrisant Gas question.—Ed.]
Electric Theatre .1
Electric Theatre .1 A somewhat extensive experience has shown me that even the best of amusement booking- agents and managers have off-colour" weeks, and I have been long wondering when the Elec- tric management would strike a snag. Summer and winter for two years' now they have main- tained a high standard without deflection, and for next week they are setting a new standard. The securing of the new Goldwyn series of super- dramas is a feat even topping those exclusive early Triangles. For next week the newest and greatest of the Goldwyn's has been booked in Baby Mine," a picturisation of Margaret Mayo's comedy-drama that captured the art world, with clever Madge Kennedy again star- ring. Again there is a Chaplin, Charlie at the Bank," a re-issue of one of the premier filmists funniest exploits. "Count Bernstorff's Secrets" continues its exciting unfoldment, and there are several good fill-ups and features. From Thursday the top line is filled by The Devil's Bondswoman." It is a remarkable story of a man whose greatness is marred by a devil's smear of evil, and a woman without gjjaile or fault—a great love and its triumphant fulfil- ment. r t is a full-size story, told exquisitely, running the whole gamut of life. ()Ii! Baby" is the conx-dy, and d" The Romance of Olive" is a good number. A Fireside Realisation is a minor feature that would satisfy most managers as a topriiner. By the nay, the present programme is one that no lover of a strong programme can afford to miss. PLAYGOER. I
Discharged Men Organising
Discharged Men Organising I SIC MEETINC IN MERTHYIR. ONE INDEPENDENT, SELF-SUPPORTING^ FICHTINC ORCANISATION WANTED. With the object of forming a strong Merthyr Branch of the Welsh National Federation of Dis- charged Sailors' a.nd Soldters' Association a meeting of tho ex-service men of the town was held in the Court Arms on Tuesday night, when ill addition to the conveners a deputation of two visited the meeting from the powerful Troedy- rhiw and District Branch, which has over 300 members on its roll. Hints on organisation and procedure were given by the delegation. The discussion largely centred around the need of amalgamanoii between the Welsh National Federation and the National Associa- tion, of which a branch already exists in the town, Jt transpired that important conferences I are to be held in the immediate future at which the protagonists of the one organisation ideal will endeavour to secure the unification impera- tively necessary if the are not to dissipate their energies in sterile faction fights between themselves. At all events it was clear that the Merthyr ex-service men are not going to spend themselves in foolishly cutting each others' throats, and that whichever organisation 's chosen it will be the one organisation for tho whole of the discharged men of Merthyr march- ing solidly forward under one banner. THE SPIRIT OF UNITY. There wa.s a wonderful spirit of unity pervad- ing on Tuesday night, and it was clear that not only did the men know what they wanted, but also that they would never get it unless they used their collective force properly foeussed into a single movement, and adequately backed by strong finances—finances contributed, and not subscribed hy pat.rons, whorse patronage might paralyse the arm of the men when it was most necessary to strike hankit and quickest. That the movement shall also he non-political was a strong point, and though in all probability cir- cumstances will compel the men to take up the political weapon, with which they are so dis- gusted to-day, the decision was a good one. With politics determined hy experience there will be no disagreement, whereas at the moment the men are exponents of -every shade of political opinion, and partisanship at this stage would only lead to internal dissensions and ultimate disruption. Therefore, until experience dictates them politics are to be strictly taboo. A ROOM IN THE TOWN HALL. Tow ards the close of the proceedings a mem- ber hinted that, as a right, a room at the Town Hall should be placed at their disposal for meet- ings to be held once a week. Why not.? Have- the Town Council not declared again and again their admiration of these men whilst they still wore the khaki and the blue ? Individually and collectively they have done so, and iio*- they might show that appreciation and admiration in this tangible way. At all events, the meetings are to be held weekly on Tuesdays from now forward, a.nd for next week the men present are pledged to catch a pal and bring him along. We heartily wish the men every success and advise all our ex-ser- vice readers to get into the movement and help it along.
A Message From Glasgow.
A Message From Glasgow. I WALTON NEWBOLD TELLS WHAT HE SAW THERE. A CRITIC OF PRESIDENT WILSON. T. Walton Newbold's visit to the Rink; Merthyr, last Sunday was rendered noteworthy by the fact that he was straight from Glasgow, to where he had been called from Merthyr at the beginning of the week. Although the major portion of his time was given over to a. critical analysis of the American economic and political history of the pa.st. few years for the purpose of displaying the mere Liberalism of Presi- dent Wilson, it was his m?ssa? from Shinwell that was the real feature of his speech. I was in St. Andrew's Hall last Wc-ki?IZay )Iiglit," lie an(I saw the picket 6,000 strong go out to the power station at Kingston. I saw something of the methods that were quite evidently resorted to in order to provike trouble. I saw a Ministry of Munitions waggon deliber- ately driven through tho procession in one of the most crowded thoroughfares of the city. From instances like that I can be perfectly cer- tain that the disorders were deliberately pro- voiced. Anyone knowing the reputation and career in office of Tommy Dun lop, Provost of Glasgow, knows that nothing would he done to make it easier for the Labour Movement. I am jold that Glasgow is under 100,000 soldiers w-itli, bayonets fixed, standing at. every street corner in full service equipment. (Shame!) I am not surprised. The Government has, however, not interfered. You can look out for all kinds of preventive arrests. Gallagher, Shinwell and Kirkw<xxl are the first. I believe there will be others in other parts of the country before long, and I want you to hold a watching brief. I say this, and [ am empowered to say it by Councillor Shinwell a.nd 70,000 Glasgow workers, they are watching t-o see whether you will come to their help. (Cheers.) It is for you to decide and take the steps you think best. I ask you to watch Glasgow and Belfast, where the workers are in virtual control of the muni- cipality. PRESIDENT WILSON. Speaking of President Wilson, Walton de- clared that Wilson as the representative of Li- beralism was the inevitable and inveterate enemy of every member of the I.L.P. If there was one man in the world who could hold bac1í the social revolution, if there was one man to- day standing between ii,, and Socialism, it was that man who spoke in undefined terms and phrases of self-determination, freedom of the seas, and the rights of small nationalities— .President Wilson. President Wilson desired to save tho world for Liberalism and private enter- prise. He had just stated before leaving America. that he was opposed to the Nationalisation of the American railroads. Mr. W. W. Craik, sub-warden of the C.L.C., was also present and spoke of the essential ne- cessity of industrial organisation and solidarity. Mr. E. Soermus also spoke. Mr. Noah Ablett was in the chair.
ITHE NEW REGISTER.
I THE NEW REGISTER. The new Electors' Register is now being made up, and the preliminary list of voters will be published on February 1st. Any elector not in- cluded in the list must ma-h- a claim before February 18th. Full particulars of qualifications for both men and women are set out in the Ln- bour Party leaflet, No. 5 (new series), which can be obtained from the Central Office.
Labour Notes.-I
in London, comprising representatives of trade union. Labour, and co-operative organisations, for joint action at the elect ions. Those taking part in the conference included Miss Mary Mac- arthur, Miss Llewelyir Davies, Messrs. C. W. Bowerman, M.P., D. Carmicliael, S. F. Perry, J.P. (National Co-operative Representation Committee), T. A. Navlor, Fred Bramley, Will Godfrey, Herbert Morrison and others. I have not yet read Farbman's book referred to by Mr. Wallhead, hut it is clear to me that the policy of the Coalition Government was pro- Ally, and that Kerensky as Minister for War was its tool. The point to be borne in mind is that whatever pressure the Entente Powers exerted, tho Coalition was not. averse to that pressure for two reasons: (1) To attain its Im- perialistic aims, and (2) to crush the revolution. The July offensive was the deliberate act of the bourgeoisie of Russia, who controlled the Gov- ernment. If Kerensky was not in favour of their war policy he could and should have re- signed office. As he did not do so there is, in my judgment, no excuse whatever for the despic- able part he played, not only in organising the July offensive, but in participating in the coun- ter-revolutionary plots against the Soviets. With refenjjice to the supposed offer made by Lenin and TrOTsky to the American Government, John Reed, the well-known Socialist and co- editor of the Liberator, who, after his stay in Russia, was made Bolshevik Ambassador in New York, has stated in an article: "That he believes that some days before the ratification of the treaty of Brest Litovsk the Soviet leaders summoned the American representatives and made an offer of co-operation with the Allies, asking for supplies and technical assistance, stating definitely that if the aid were granted, the Soviets would refuse to ratify the Brest- Litovsk treaty, and that Russia would continue the war against Germany." Until this is confirmed by the Soviet leaders referred to I accept this statement with reserve. If such an offer were made it was obviously a measure of desperation, being so entirely out of line with the declared policy, not only of Lenin and Trotsky, but of an overwhelming majority in the Soviets. Indeed, the revolutionary masses were so bit.terly hostile to a continuation of the w ar that it is doubtful whether the Soviets would have endorsed the offer were it macle and ac- cepted. Moreover, the object of the Bolslieviki to create a revolutionary movement in the em- pires of the Central Powers would have been en- dangered had they allied themselves with the imperialist Entente Powers.—Yours, etc., I FRED SYLVESTER, s Evelyn Road, Sparkhill.