11. International Trade Union Unity
"Following upon the discussions at Congress last year in relation to International Trade Union Unity, and arising from which the General Council were instructed to take all possible steps to bring the parties together, I express regret that the desire of the Congress to secure more unity in the International Trade Union Movement has not yet been fully realised.
"No effort has been spared by the General Council to bring the parties together. The result of these efforts is embodied in the General Council Report. Acting in a mediatory capacity, by consultation with representatives of the All-Russian Trade Unions, an interchange of opinions again opened the way for discussion between the International Federation of Trade Unions and the Russian unions' representatives. In the opinion of the General Council, the Russian representatives showed an inclination and genuine desire to find agreement and a place inside the International Federation of Trade Unions.
"Though the door appeared to be closed owing to misunderstandings, at the request of and on the advice of the British representatives the Russian representatives offered to meet representatives of the I.F.T.U. in a conference to enable both sides to talk over existing difficulties. As a preliminary, Russian representatives agreed to a constitution similar to that of the I.F.T.U. The difference between the two parties appears to the General Council to be so small and their responsibilities to the whole Trade Union Movement so serious that, in my judgment, a very great disservice is being perpetuated by the parties being kept apart one moment longer than is absolutely necessary. The General Council having been charged by Congress to deal with this question and bring it to a successful issue, can do no more than report to Congress upon the present position.
"We note with regret that the Press has taken a hand, along with some of our friends, in challenging our right to continue these negotiations. We have never had a doubt that we were fully meeting your wishes in holding open the door to negotiations between Moscow and Amsterdam, and I feel sure our mediatorial efforts will ultimately meet with success. I can conceive of no greater blunder and disservice to the movement than that of raking up all the nasty and bitter statements that have been made during the past four to five years and trying to breathe new life into, and fan into flame, the hatreds arising from war conditions. There is now a new atmosphere, and it is our duty to bend all our energies to the reconstruction of the International Trade Union Movement on the basis of toleration, mutual understanding, and unity of purpose.
"We are told in some quarters that we are giving too much time to our Russian comrades, but does not every member who is desirous of establishing a world-wide international movement perceive the immense stride forward that would be made by bringing in six and a-half millions of organised workers? With these workers within the International the smaller nations would feel it imperative to link up.
"Already there are indications that the smaller countries are taking a new outlook.
"There are surely signs over the whole field of industry which indicate that vast and revolutionary changes must take place in industrial structure to meet the changed conditions. Men and women are not going to remain content with a condition of society which condemns millions of human beings to want the necessaries of life, while as a result of education and knowledge they know too well and see quite clearly that nature in its bounteousness can supply all their legitimate needs by the proper organisation of society upon a basis of collective ownership.
"Crowns have fallen and plutocratie Governments are being displaced by Workers' Republics and representatives of the people.
"It is imperative that we shall have a clear understanding with the Trade Unions throughout the world. A step in that direction is to strengthen and bring into the International Federation of Trade Unions all the countries of Europe, and the work of your General Council during the year will be looked back to in years to come as contributing to the building up of an effective international organisation.