CONSCRIPTION ISSUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 117, 20 May 1939, Page 9

CONSCRIPTION ISSUE

DECISION BY TRADES UNION CONGRESS

STRONG PROTEST

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

(Received May 20, 10 a.m.)

LONDON, May 19,

By an overwhelming majority of 3,923,000 to 550.000 on a card vote, the Trade Union Congress defeated advocates of drastic action against conscription and accepted the council's recommendation that trade unionists should not withdraw their co-operation from the Government in voluntary national service and civil defence.

The Congress rejected by 4,172,000 votes to 425,000 a proposal by the railwaymen for a general strike against conscription.

The Congress resolved by 3,678,000 votes to 450,000 to protest against the introduction of conscription in violation of the Prime Minister's pledge. Other undertakings urge /an immediate agreement with Russia, the creation of a peace front, arid cooperation with the United States in re-establishing international confidence leading to disarmament and restoration of trade, and express indignation at the rushing of the Compulsory Military Training Bill through Parliament without consideration of important amendments. The conference opposes ■ the permanency or extension of military conscription, and demands that the Government control prices, limit profits, and conscript wealth. The resolution involves the acceptance of a scheme on a broad basis dealing with industrial problems in time of war, and wider recognition of collective bargaining which will be negotiated with the Ministry of Labour. * \