STRIKERS ORDERLY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1918, Page 5

STRIKERS ORDERLY.

WORKERS' STRONG; POSITION, t POLICY OP PROLETARIAT. London, Jan. 22. The Amsterdam correspondent of the Daily Chronicle reports that the Austrian ' strikers behaved in exemplary fashion, avoided disorder, and continued absolutely necessary work of traffic, and observed perfect discipline. The workers presented a united front and the Government was faced with a serious situation.'The Gjovernment's hasty climbdown demonstrated the workers' strong position and their determination to bring 'matters to a head. Count Czernin realised that it was advisable to emphasise in the most direct terms that the Government of the Dual Monarchy.,stands by a policy of peace without annexations, and swiftly capitulated to the Labor demands, including women's suffrage. Seldom has any government climbed down to such an extreme. The policy of the proletariat may be summed up in throe words—peace,: bread and freedom—and the greatest of these is peace. No doubt the recent speeches oj Mr. Lloyd George and President Wilson have produced a great effect. Austrian workers' deputations repeatedly told the Ministers that tlie proletariat regarded the utterances as outlining a baßis on which k general peace should be discussed.

'Dr. Seizler's speech to the Labor leaders was remarkably conciliatory in tone. He declared that the Government continued to aim at a speedy general peace. The Entente would be blame-worthy if only a separate peace with Russia was immediately secured; He disclaimed aims of conquest. ' Other representatives of the Govern-, mcnt promised food reforms,, extension of the organisation, municipal suffrage, an'd votes for women. The workers withdrew, and decided in favor of the resumption of work,