LABOUR’S ROLE IN EUROPEAN RECOVERY

Grey River Argus, 12 April 1948, Page 8

LABOUR’S ROLE IN EUROPEAN RECOVERY

(From Herbert Tracey: Britain’s Trades Union Congress). LONDON, April 9. First, in order of time, of two very important conferences which Britain’s Trades Union Congress convened recently is the International Trade Union Conference on the European Recovery Programme, meeting in London on March 9 and 10. The other conference will meet on March 24., also in London, to consider proposals made by the T.U.C. general council to guide the action of affiliated trade unions during the present economic crisis, particularly on wages. This second conference will be a representative gathering of the executive councils of the affiliated T.U.C. unions. Much importance will attach to its decision in view of Britain’s economic difficulties. The international trade union conference is of wider significance. Trade union representatives from countries concerned with the American programme of aid to Europe have now arranged to meet in London to' examine the programme from the trade union standpoint. It has been agreed that the conference'should be purely explanatory and consultative and should not be called upon to take any decision by majority vote. The conclusions reached are to be presented as recommendations to the national centres concerned. WIDE REPRESENTATION

The conference has been called upon the authority of Britain’s T.U.C. in conjunction with the national centres of Holland, Belgium and Luxemburg. In deciding upon representation at the conference, the convening authorities have therefore secured as wide a representation as possible from the trade unions in the countries directly concerned with the European Recovery Programme. In addition to the recognised national centres in th e 1G participating countries, however, the invitation has been extended to such trade unions as Force Ouvriere in France, the American Federation of Labour, as well as the Congress of Industrial Organisations unions in the United States and the Christian trade union organisations in France, Belgium Luxemburg. Switzerland and Holland. The Scandinavian countries are included among the national centres whose representatives will attend the conference which is to be held at Britain’s T.U.C. headquarters in London. The conference is concentrating on those aspects of the European Re- ( covery Programme which directly affect European wage-earners and their trade union organisations. It is recognised that the programme calls for an immense expansion of Europe’s productive industries, and it is with these productive tasks that the European trade union movement is most intimately concerned. Political aspects of America’s offer of aid to Europe are not the immediate concern of European trade unions. MAJOR FACTOR

Another conference has been summoned bv Britain’s Labour Party to meet in London and deal with the political aspects of the European Recovery Programme. The Socialist Parties of 14 countries will send representatives to this conference on March 21 and 22. Britain’s Labour Party decided to convene this conference believing that the programme is likelv to be a major factor in the political and economic life of Western Europe for at least the next four years. The Socialist parties of Western Europe, most of them in close association with Governments directly responsible for the programme, have a common interest in discussing the i problems with which, in any case the programme is certain to' confront them individually. Moreover they have a comomn obligation to state clearly why they support the programme. Misunderstandings are rife throughout Europe about its aims. These have risen to' suspicion, and in some countries to hostile propaganda. Britain’s Labour Party feels that these conditions create both a need and an oportunity for Socialist Party initiative. In the Party’s view the posibility of the programme maintaining its present progressive character must depend in no small degree on the part which the Socialist Parties of Europe play in shaping its development and in publicising its significance. For the Trade Union Movement, on the other hand, more importance ataches to the productive tasks which the programme imposes upon the workers. In their analysis of Europe’s economic needs, the committee of experts appointed by the Paris conference of participating nations last year, emphasised the measure of self-help which the 1 programme entailed upon each of the European countries —not only self-help but mutual help. The programme itself looks forward to a colossal stepping up of production in agriculture, min-, ing, electricity output, steel production, shipbuilding, and inland transport. It is with these practical obligations of the programme that the ’London trade union conference must concern itself.