LABOUR AND THE WAR CABINET

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 117, 4 February 1918, Page 5

LABOUR AND THE WAR CABINET

A CRISIS PENDING • LETTER BY MR'. ARTHUR HENDBRSpN . (Rec. Fobruary 3, 5.5 p.m.) > London, February 2. Mr. Arthur Henderson (Labour leader) has issued a statement to the Press urging the Government to withdraw its refusal separately to mefat tho representatives of tho Amalgamated Socioty of Engineers, and also appealing to the workers not to embarrass the Labour leaders or jeopardise the-unity of the international movement. He declares that democratic diplomacy has begun, and expresses the opinion th.-ii th-> alleged Labour Conference meeti'ig in London on Febrinrv 20 will acnitwe the agreement of nil the Allied worKiiig olass parties upon a policy to secure a democratic peace. "Such a peace will como when the Governments are resolutely told that peace must he mads at oncp on such terms, and no othar." Mr. Henderson adds: "Information in my possession. shows that the industrial ' situation is graver and more pregnant of disastrous possibilities than at any period of the war. A crisis of the first magnitude is threatened. The workmen's temper is dangerous. Tie Government's unyielding attitude is bring- ■ ing the country to tho verge of an industrial revolution." He appeals to ■ the workmen to realise the gravity of the step to threaten a strike unless the Government declares tin armistice to negotiate. Tho action of the working classes of the Central Powers may precipitate a crisis when tho arrangements we are making for concentrated action by the international democracy in the direction of a general peaoe aro rapidly approaching completion.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. THE GOVERNMENT'S REPLY ' (Rec. February 3, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 2, The Press Bureau, in an official Ireply to Mr. Arthur Henderson, controverts tho claim that the Government had admitted the engineers the claim to separate treatment. The statement concludes: "It is necessary to realise that this is not a difference between the Government and one or more unions, but between the unions them- ; selves. It is well known that other ' nnione have resented the Government's action in previously meeting the amalgamated engineers separately. The Government now agrees to meet the amalgamated men separately if the other unions agree. 'No question of procedure must obscure the man-power .issue. In order to maintain the armies in the field, the fit men must be withdrawn from the munition works. Tho dilution of labour alone is not sufficient to provide the necessary number'.—Aus.N.Z. Cable. Assn.-Reuter., - '■■ . v PRESS COMMENT ' CONCILIATORY ATTITUDE RECOMMENDED. fßec. February 3 5.5 p.m.) London, February 2. The "Times," commenting on Mr. Henderson's letter, suggests that the Government, should modify its attitude towards the engineers.—"The Times."