LABOUR AND THE WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, 25 February 1918, Page 5

LABOUR AND THE WAR.

TRADES UNIONIST ATTITUDE, LONDON, February 22,

M. Albert Thomas, formerly French Minister of Munitions, is president of the Socialist conference, which includes representatives from Italy, Rumania, South Africa, a*nd the southern Slavs, M. Thomas said that the conference must show itself able to reach an agreement on war aims which the Allied Governments had faildd to do. The Daily Telegraph states that the trade unionists arc considering separating from Socialist organisations and establishing a trade union labour party owing to their resentment of pacifist attacks on trade union officials, who, wdiile members of Parliament and Ministers, advocated prosecution of the ■war.

A COMPLETE AGREEMENT REACHED. MILITARISM MUST BE ABOLISHED. Received 8.50. LONDON, February 24.

The Inter-Allied Socialist Conference has ended. A final agreement was reached on war aims, and they are taking steps to notify their decisions to notify their decisions to the Socialist parties in the Central Empires, and are sending a delegation to confer with, President Wilson. Mr. Gompers, at a farewell luncheon, Mr_ Henderson presiding, expressed gratification that the conference had substantially accepted the British Labour’s war aims, tabled on the 17th of December, The Conference had decided for the absolute freedom and intregity of Belgium, Servia Rouraania, and Montenegro; that every territorial change be based on justice and right, making for the permanence of the world s peace. These arc our irreducible minima. When secured we desire to begin the fullest intercourse of all nations and we repudiate every attempt to institute an economic boycott or commercial and financial isolation of Germany. The conflict can only be ended three ways; namely, by militarism. exhaustion, or conciliation We are convinced that all belligerents must eventually resort to conciliation Nothing was further from the truth than the allegation that labour was only concerned in holding out the olive branch to the enemy, We will not negotiate with an oHve branch while the enemy’s harfd holds the sword, Both sides must be prepared to abandon militarism before a settlement is possible

PATRIOTIC MINERS. Received 9.45. LONDON, Feb 24. The Durban miners have decided to support the major proposal supply 50,000 Class A men, to be selected by the Miners’ Organisation.