Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

6 articles on this Page

ITHE CALL TO LABOUR.'-

News
Cite
Share

THE CALL TO LABOUR. It would be difficult to find two men more diverse in temperament, training and talent than Lord Kitchener and Mr Lloyd George, and when both in the plentitude of know- ledge and with one voice insist on the vital necessity of a course of action to safeguard the nation, it is manifest that the danger pre- sent to their thoughts is such as to stamp j itself with equal rigour and clearness on the most different types of minds. Early in the week Lord Kitchener, writing to Mr James Sexton, the Secretary of the Dock Labourers' Union, expressed his surprise that there was "a section among the dockers of Liverpool who still refused to work overtime," and add- ed, "I feel sure that these men can hardly realise that their action in thus congesting the docks and delaying munitions of war and food required by our men at the front is hav- ing a very serious and dangerous effect, and must be stopped. This statement was in its gist a repetition of the grave warning to the nation contained in the memorable speech delivered by Lord Kitchener in the House of Lords earlier in the month. We are glad to note that the message of the Secretary of State for War made a deep and immediate impression on the men to whom it was espe- cially addressed. The Chancellor of tho Exchequer in all his recent speeches has pressed precisely the same point in his own style. In an interview which he granted a few days ago to a representative of the Daily Ciliccii, the organ of the Par- liamentary Labour Party, he returned to the subject. Speaking- of the action of the Gov- ernment in assuming control of armament factories, Mr Lloyd George said, "We set out with one purpose—the expansion of the means of production of munitions and equipment of war. That is essential to its if we are to win, and it is the sole object we had in view." The italics are ours. In the course of the interview the Chancellor of the Exchequer said, "Fiveii now I doubt whether the work- men in this country realise how much depends on their efforts, and it is very difficult to make them realise it without telling things which would encourage the enemy." The inter. viewer adds, "He told me some of these things, and the earnestness of his appeal was explained." We dwell emphatically upon the appeals made to the workers by Lord Kitchener and Mr Lloyd George because there is a widespread but erroneous impression among the public that the whole matter was settled at the re- cent Conference at which the Government and the State Departments and Trade Unions most closely concerned were represented. It is true that 35 workmen's organisations were repre. sented at the Conference held at the Treasury last week, and that after consultation with the Chancellor of tho Exchequer, the Presi- dent of the Board of Trade and other authori. ties the representatives of these important bodies agreed to recommend certain proposals to the members whoso spokesmen they were. These proposals have commanded a large mea. sure of approval among all classes, but it is vitally important to remember that they have still to be submitted to the unions and that terinq have still to be arranged with employ- ers before a full and final agreement can be reached. In the meanwhile, it is the urgent duty of every man and woman in the country to use his or her influence to the utmost to secure that the proposals adopted by the Con- ference shall be accepted either as they stand or with such modifications as further con- sideration may show to be necessary. It is true that the Government is now armed with drastic coercive powers, but such powers can- not be effectually enforced against thousands of men in the matter of the work they do from day to day, even if it were desirable to I proceed by the method of compulsion. We prefer the attitude adopted by Mr Lloyd t George in the interview from which we have quoted. "Without the co-operation of Lao. our," said the Chancellor of the Exchequer, "we arc impotent, and this country would inevitably be deprived of victory if Labour failed us." That appeal to patriotism will not fall on deaf cars. The war is in truth a struggle upon the issue of which the future of the liberty of the people depends.

.4 GREAT SIEGE. I

Advertising

IWAKE UP, IRELAND!.

[No title]

I . l_, I HOURS OF PUBLIC…