BRITISH LABOUR AND ITS WAR AIMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 73, 19 December 1917, Page 5

BRITISH LABOUR AND ITS WAR AIMS

FIGHTING FOR THE SAFETY OF j DEMOCRACY •

SWEEPING AFTER-WAR CONDITIONS

London, December 17. Tho Parliamentary Commit-too of tho Trade Union Congress and the Executive of the Labour Party have formulated a draft statemont of Labour's war aims and peace policy, to be.submitted to .tho National Conference at Westminster on December 28. The statement says that, whatever caused the war, the fundamental purpose of the British Labour movement in supporting tho continuanco of the war is that the world may bo safe for democracy. The most important war aim is that henceforth there shall be no more war. In order to achieve this object tho movement relies upon tho complete democratisation of. all countries, tho frank abandonment of every form of Imperialism, the suppression of secret diplomacy, and tho absolute responsibility of the Foreign Minister, to the Legislature. . The manifesto, demands /the universal abolition of compulsory military service in all countries; the common limitation of armaments, and tho abolition of profit-making by armament firms. Moreover, a supernational authority or League of Nations must bo established, composed of the present belligerents, while neutrals should also join. All disputes must be submitted to an International High Court. All < States must enter into a solemn agreement to make common! cause against any State which fails to adhero to- this agreement. It is impossible to ignore tho fact that certain territorial readjustments will bo required if the renewal of .armaments and war is to ho avoided. It was a-crime that AlsaceLorraine was forcibly torn from Franca in 1871. Tho inhabitants should he allowed to freely decide their political future. The people of the Balkans and Poland should decide their own. future, irrespective of Austrian, Turkish, or other foreign dominations. Tho Labour movement, the manifesto, continues, lias the warmest sympathy with tho people of Italian blood' and speech left outside the Kingdom of Italy, but has no sympathy with the far-reaching aims of conquest of Italian Imperialism. The Labour movement hopes the Jews will form a free State in Palestine While Armenia, Mesopotamia, and Arabia cannot be restored to the tyranny of the Sultan and his pashas, these countries should be placed under tho League of Nations, which should also control Constantinople. Tho Labour Party disclaims sympathy with all Imperialist ideas. The colonies in tropical Africa should rot be tho booty of any nation, and ex- . ploited by capitalists. All the belligerents should abandon dreams of sn African Empire, and transfer the prosent colonies to the League of Nations, which would form a permanently neutral African State. In cases where the sovereignty of other territories must bo transferred, they should he the sublject (of amicable bargaining, with an equivalent exchange in money or otherwise. . The Labour Party declare against an economic war after peaceis made. It considefs that Customs duties should he limited strictly to revenue purposes for the restoration of devastated areas in France. Belgium. Italy, East Prussia, and Poland. The Labour movement will not be satisfied unless there is a full, free, and judicial investigation of all acts of cruelty and theft for, which there was no justification in the" ordinary usages of war. The peace conditions should set a court to hear accusations, which it would investigate, mid for which it should award damages.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.