George Padmore

The Voice of Coloured Labour

Speeches and Reports of Colonial Delegates to the World Trade Union
Conference
1945
First published: as The Voice of Coloured Labour; Speeches and Reports of Colonial Delegates to
the World Trade Union Conference 19! by PANAF Service Ltd, 58 O!ord "oad, #a$chester%
&he 'orld &rade ($io$ )o$!ere$ce *as held at )ou$ty +all, Lo$do$ i$ February ,-.5, a$d *as
presided over by #r% George /saacs, )hairma$ o! the 0ritish &rade ($io$ )o$gress% 0esides other
illumi$ati$g material collected i$ this report o! the co$!ere$ce, the discussio$s bet*ee$ various
delegates to the co$!ere$ce !rom arou$d the *orld about !ascism, imperialism a$d 1io$ism still
repay readi$g today 2 &ra$scriber3s $ote%
Contents
Fore*ord 2 0y George Padmore
4iscussio$ o$ Peace Settleme$t
4iscussio$ o$ 'orld &rade ($io$ Federatio$
)olo$ials )halle$ge #essage to 0ig &hree
)itri$e3s &e$5Poi$t Programme
Post5'ar "eco$structio$
4eclaratio$ o! the Attitude to the Peace Settleme$t
Greeti$gs !rom 0ritish Guia$a 2 0y +ubert )ritschlo*
)o$!ere$ce 4ecisio$s
Nigeria$ Labour o$ the #ove 2 0y &%A% 0a$6ole
Ge$eral Stri6e i$ Nigeria
&rade ($io$ #oveme$t o$ the Gold )oast 2 0y 7oe S% A$$a$
+istory o! the &rade ($io$ #oveme$t i$ 0ritish Guia$a 2 0y +ubert )ritchlo*
+istory o! the 7amaica Labour #oveme$t 2 0y a$ Observer
ore!ord " #$ %eorge &ad'ore
&he *ide a$d represe$tative character o! the )olo$ial delegatio$ to the 'orld &rade ($io$
)o$!ere$ce i$ February *as sig$i!ica$t a$d e$couragi$g% /t *as sig$i!ica$t !or the !act that !or the
!irst time i$ the history o! i$ter$atio$al labour, coloured )olo$ial *or6ers 2 the most oppressed a$d
eploited sectio$ o! the *orld proletariat 2 *ere give$ the opportu$ity o! voici$g their grieva$ces
a$d o! epressi$g their hopes a$d aspiratio$s through their trusted leaders% /t *as e$couragi$g
because i$ discussi$g the 8uestio$ o! a $e* i$ter$atio$al trade u$io$ orga$isatio$, the *hite *or6i$g
class trade u$io$ moveme$ts o! 9urope a$d America, *hich have hitherto ig$ored the coloured
*or6ers, are appare$tly begi$$i$g to recog$ise that :Labour i$ the *hite s6i$ ca$$ot ema$cipate
itsel! *hile Labour i$ the blac6 s6i$ is e$slaved%; &his a*are$ess *as ma$i!ested i$ dra*i$g the
lo$g5$eglected a$d !orgotte$ millio$s o! )olo$ial *or6ers i$to the *orld !rater$ity o! labour%
/$ this se$se the 'orld &rade ($io$ )o$!ere$ce achieved a degree o! solidarity *hich should go a
lo$g *ay to*ards layi$g the !ou$datio$s o! the $e* i$ter$atio$al !ederatio$ *hose !ormatio$ has
bee$ e$dorsed%
)olo$ial delegates came !rom Nigeria, Gold )oast, Sierra Leo$e a$d Gambia i$ 'est A!rica< !rom
7amaica i$ the 'est /$dies< 0ritish Guia$a i$ South America< !rom Palesti$e, )yprus, a$d else*here%
/t is $ote*orthy that the Norther$ "hodesia$ #i$e*or6ers3 ($io$ *as represe$ted by a *hite ma$,
!or the )olour 0ar i$ that colo$y ecludes A!rica$ mi$ers !rom e$teri$g the u$io$%
'hile most o! the )olo$ial u$io$s represe$ted by the coloured delegates are you$g, they have
$evertheless bee$ able to build up substa$tial memberships si$ce ,-.=, *he$ trade u$io$ism *as
recog$ised i$ pri$ciple !or the !irst time by the 0ritish )olo$ial admi$istratio$s%
&he Nigeria$ &rade ($io$ )o$gress, *hich came i$to bei$g o$ly three years ago, $o* boasts a
membership o! 5==,=== a$d 5> a!!iliated u$io$s, coveri$g tra$sport, mi$i$g, doc65labour, seame$,
public *or6s, gover$me$t employees, etc% O$ the other ha$d, the 0ritish Guia$a &rade ($io$
)ou$cil, *ith a membership o! ,=,===, is o$e o! the oldest *or6i$g5class orga$isatio$s i$ the
)olo$ial 9mpire% /t rece$tly celebrated its ?5th a$$iversary a$d *as represe$ted at the )o$!ere$ce
by its preside$t, #r% +ubert )ritchlo*, *ho !ou$ded a$d led the moveme$t through its 8uarter o! a
ce$tury o! eiste$ce% #r% )ritchlo* is the represe$tative o! the Negro, /$dia$ a$d other coloured
*or6ers o! 0ritish Guia$a o$ the Gover$or3s 9ecutive )ou$cil%
Although most o! the coloured delegates have served lo$g terms o! impriso$me$t !or their *or6i$g
class a$d trade u$io$ activities, their speeches to the )o$!ere$ce did $ot re!lect a$y o! the perso$al
bitter$ess a$d ra$cour that o$e might have epected !rom i$dividuals *ho have bee$ the victims o!
rele$tless persecutio$% For eample, &% A% 0a$6ole, Preside$t o! the Nigeria$ &rade ($io$ )o$gress,
addressi$g the closi$g sessio$ o! the )o$!ere$ce o$ the sub@ect o! the $e* i$ter$atio$al !ederatio$,
stressed the $eed !or a$ all5embraci$g orga$isatio$% :At this @u$cture i$ *orld a!!airs, *he$ labour
has ador$ed its history *ith glorious achieveme$ts i$ the struggle to overthro* Fascism a$d to
establish a lasti$g peace, the *or6ers o! the *orld ca$$ot but come together i$ order to be i$ a
positio$ to co$tribute collectively to the establishme$t a$d mai$te$a$ce o! that peace,; #r% 0a$6ole
declared, a$d *e$t o$ to say that he thought this *as :*hy the !ormatio$ o! a$ i$ter$atio$al trade
u$io$ orga$isatio$ is a prime $ecessity%; Such a$ orga$isatio$, he emphasised, :must be !ou$ded o$
the pri$ciple o! e8ual treatme$t !or all a!!iliated bodies a$d their represe$tatives, regardless o! the
cou$tries !rom *hich they derive, a$d must be $urtured i$ a$ atmosphere o! mutual regard,
discipli$e a$d ca$dour% /t must 6eep a$ ope$ door !or all approved labour orga$isatio$s !u$ctio$i$g
i$ all la$ds; 2 allied, $eutral a$d e5e$emy%
&here *as $othi$g o! $arro* $atio$alism, racial or chauvi$istic, i$ the speeches o! these blac6 me$%
9very o$e o! them re!lected a high level o! class solidarity a$d socialist co$victio$%
&he speci!ic claims o! the )olo$ial *or6i$g classes *ere voiced by 'allace 7oh$so$, Preside$t o!
the Sierra Leo$e &rade ($io$ )o$gress, *ho a !e* *ee6s be!ore his arrival i$ Lo$do$ had bee$
released by the 0ritish Gover$me$t a!ter !ive a$d a hal! years3 impriso$me$t a$d eile to Sherbro
/sla$d, o!! the coast o! 'est A!rica%
#r% 7oh$so$ called upo$ the )o$!ere$ce $ot merely to co$!i$e its co$dem$atio$ to Fascism, *hich
is $ot the o$ly e$emy o! the *or6i$g class% :/mperialism,; he asserted, :is !or the )olo$ial *or6ers
as great a me$ace as Fascism is to the *or6ers o! the metropolita$ cou$tries o! 9urope%; +e
there!ore appealed to the )o$!ere$ce to e$dorse a$d support the !ollo*i$g immediate dema$ds,
u$a$imously approved a$d adopted by all the )olo$ial delegates as a )harter o! Labour !or the
)olo$ies:
,% &he abolitio$ o! the )olour50ar a$d all racial discrimi$atio$ i$ public a$d private
employme$t%
?% &he abolitio$ o! !orced labour, child labour, a$d all !orms o! slavery, ope$ or disguised,
abolitio$ o! !loggi$g a$d other !orms o! pu$ishme$t !or breach o! labour co$tract as *ell as
pe$al sa$ctio$s !or breach o! labour co$tract%
A% Abolitio$ o! all pass la* legislatio$ a$d the establishme$t o! the right o! !ree assembly, !ree
speech, !ree press, !ree moveme$t%
.% 98ual pay !or e8ual *or6, irrespective o! race, colour, creed, or se%
5% Abolitio$ o! racial restrictio$s agai$st the admitta$ce o! A!rica$ a$d other coloured *or6ers
i$to eisti$g *hite trade u$io$s BSouth A!rica, "hodesia, etc%C% 'herever such restrictio$s
co$ti$ue to operate, A!rica$s a$d other coloured *or6ers should have the right to create
separate a$d !ree trade u$io$s%
>% &rade u$io$ a$d social legislatio$ eisti$g i$ the )olo$ies should be brought i$to li$e *ith
that eisti$g i$ the metropolis, or co$versely, the same trade u$io$ a$d social legislative
pri$ciples operati$g i$ the metropolita$ cou$tries should be made applicable to the )olo$ial
territories%
)o$cludi$g his speech, 'allace 7oh$so$ remi$ded the )o$!ere$ce that :7ustice, li6e Peace, is
i$divisible, a$d the *orld to5day ca$$ot remai$ hal! !ree a$d hal! slave%; /$ a$ elo8ue$t speech, De$
+ill, represe$ti$g the 7amaica &rade ($io$ )ou$cil, the most progressive sectio$ o! the orga$ised
*or6ers3 moveme$t o! that )aribbea$ )olo$y, called !or the ete$sio$ o! the pri$ciple o! sel!5
determi$atio$ e$u$ciated u$der Article A o! the Atla$tic )harter to the )olo$ial peoples% &here is $o
doubt that he brought to the deliberatio$s o! the )o$!ere$ce a comprehe$sive visio$ a$d
i$ter$atio$al outloo6 as re!reshi$g as it is rare at such gatheri$gs% +ill suggested that :it *ould be
u$thi$6able i! this )o$!ere$ce through its committees did $ot put !or*ard declaratio$s epressi$g
progressive vie*s o$ the )olo$ial 8uestio$% &o do less,; he asserted, :*ould be to leave the *orld to
be betrayed i$to a$other *ar *ithi$ the prese$t ge$eratio$%;
'hile recog$isi$g that the i$domitable purpose o! the !ree a$d democratic trade u$io$ moveme$ts o!
the *orld is to crush Fascism *herever it raises its ugly head, De$ +ill declared: :0ut *e must go
!urther% 'e must ta6e care that i$ our preoccupatio$ *ith this historic tas6, *e do $ot !ail to ta6e
steps a$d use the i$!lue$ce o! the i$ter$atio$al *or6i$g5class moveme$t to disco$ti$ue the system o!
/mperialism a$d )apitalist domi$atio$, *hatever shape or !orm they ta6e%;
#r% +ill based his appeal o$ the co$te$tio$ that o$e o! the mai$ causes o! moder$ *ars is the rivalry
amo$g the Great Po*ers !or )olo$ies as mar6ets, sources o! ra* materials, spheres o! eco$omic
i$!lue$ce, a$d strategic bases !or aerial, $aval a$d military operatio$s% )o$se8ue$tly, there ca$ be $o
lasti$g peace u$til this co$!lict over )olo$ies is li8uidated, a$d *ith it the *hole system o! Fascism,
NaEism a$d /mperialism 2 all o! *hich derive !rom capitalism%
+e mai$tai$ed !urther that the *orld *or6i$g class should act so that those cou$tries *hich are
represe$ted at such )o$!ere$ces should :be @udged $ot merely by the siEe o! our co$tributio$s to
arms a$d supplies o! *ar, but by the moral values *hich out u$ity a$d associatio$ ca$ e$ge$der !or
lasti$g peace a$d prosperity i$ the best i$terests o! the *or6i$g me$ a$d *ome$ o! the *orld%;
/$spired by *hat may promise to be the rebirth o! the u$ited labour moveme$t, these blac6 me$ !rom
the !ar5!lu$g parts o! the 0ritish 9mpire have retur$ed to their respective cou$tries a$d are
co$ti$ui$g *ith u$dimi$ished Eeal the struggle $ot o$ly !or $atio$al liberatio$ !rom the !etters o!
/mperialism, but also !or the eco$omic a$d social ema$cipatio$ o! the do*$trodde$ *or6ers a$d
peasa$ts !or *hom they spea6%
/mbued by the spirit o! u$ity, the 'est A!rica$ delegates have already issued a stateme$t declari$g
that the time is !ully ripe !or the !ormatio$ o! a 'est A!rica$ trade u$io$ !ederatio$, a$d that this
should be a$ immediate ob@ective aimi$g at co5ordi$ati$g the adva$ce o! the territory o! 'est A!rica
as a *hole% As a prelimi$ary step they propose the !ormatio$ o! a 'est A!rica$ trade u$io$ advisory
cou$cil, o$ the approval o! the respective 'est A!rica$ trade u$io$ co$gresses, or their e8uivale$ts,
*hich shall co$sist o! the prese$t heads o! co$gresses or their accredited represe$tatives, a$d *hich
shall meet at a$ early date i$ o$e o! the 0ritish 'est A!rica$ )olo$ies !or the purpose o! !ormulati$g
the basis o! the proposed !ederatio$%
'ithout a doubt the labour moveme$t i$ the )olo$ies is o$ the move a$d co$scious o! its aims% A
similar move is ta6i$g place i$ the 'est /$dies, *here e!!orts are bei$g made to bri$g about a$ All5
'est /$dia$ Federatio$ o! the trade u$io$ orga$isatio$s i$ the various isla$ds, as part o! the ge$eral
tre$d to*ards 'est /$dia$ political, eco$omic a$d social !ederatio$%
0ut *hile these trade u$io$ orga$isatio$s are o!!icially tolerated, they are meeti$g *ith imme$se
oppositio$ !rom the 9uropea$ employers, especially the mi$i$g a$d agricultural mo$opolists%
'or6ers *ho ide$ti!y themselves *ith trade u$io$ism are co$sidered 0olshevi6s a$d their leaders
are hu$ted !rom pillar to post% Not o$ly is it the employers *ho e$gage i$ i$timidati$g the *or6ers,
the )olo$ial admi$istratio$s themselves are o!te$ guilty% For eample, i$ Nigeria, #ichael A% O%
/moudu, Preside$t o! the "ail*ay 'or6ers3 ($io$, because o! his trade u$io$ activities, *as arrested
a$d deported !rom Lagos !or a $umber o! years by the Gover$or o! Nigeria% #r% 'allace 7oh$so$,
Secretary o! the Sierra Leo$e &rades ($io$ )o$gress, has su!!ered similar eile% /$ the 'est /$dies,
almost all o! the promi$e$t labour leaders have at some time or a$other bee$ impriso$ed, Alea$der
0ustama$te a$d De$ +ill i$ 7amaica, (riah 0utler i$ &ri$idad, )lem Pay$e i$ 0arbados, a$d ma$y
others% ($li6e labour leaders i$ 0ritai$, champio$s o! the *or6i$g class i$ the )olo$ies are $ot
regarded by the authorities as respectable citiEe$s% &hey are al*ays sub@ect to molestatio$%
/$ the same *ay $e*spapers *hich are $ot $ecessarily trade u$io$ orga$s, but *hich support the
struggles o! the *or6ers, are o!te$ suppressed% &he "igeria Wor#er, the orga$ o! the territory3s
&rades ($io$ )o$gress, has su!!ered a lo$g period o! suppressio$% A$d duri$g the ge$eral stri6e
*hich bro6e out o$ 7u$e ?,st, ,-.5, a$d is still i$ progress at this *riti$g B7uly ?=th, ,-.5C, t*o o!
the most progressive A!rica$ $e*spapers, The West $frican %ilot a$d Dail& Co'et, have bee$
suppressed% )olo$ial o!!icials hostile to trade u$io$ism i$vo6e de!e$ce regulatio$s to muEEle the
press% ($der these regulatio$s a$y editor i$ Nigeria ca$ be !i$ed FA== or se$te$ced to A years3
impriso$me$t or both *ithout trial% All 6i$ds o! charges, !rom seditio$ to co$spiracy, are levelled
agai$st milita$t )olo$ial labour leaders *ho ma6e a courageous sta$d i$ dema$di$g eleme$tary
rights !or the *or6i$g class% &he most usual charge is o$e o! i$citeme$t to disa!!ectio$, !or u$der
)olo$ial co$ditio$s o! a plural society, it is very easy to ma6e out grou$ds !or such a charge% /$ these
territories, *here the eploiters o! labour are *hite a$d the eploited blac6, a dema$d !or higher
*ages or better co$ditio$s o! service is immediately i$terpreted as racial i$citeme$t 2 the blac6
*or6ers agai$st the *hite capitalists%
&he barriers to the buildi$g up o! trade u$io$s are multiplied ma$i!old i$ territories li6e South
A!rica, the "hodesias, De$ya, a$d other 9ast A!rica$ )olo$ies, *here o!!icial restrictio$s agai$st
assembly a$d !reedom o! moveme$t a$d associatio$ o! the i$dige$ous peoples operate% Nevertheless
co$siderable achieveme$ts ca$ be registered, despite all the ha$dicaps%
/t is estimated that throughout the *hole )olo$ial 9mpire there are about A5= registered trade
u$io$s, varyi$g i$ their membership !rom a !e* hu$dred to several thousa$d% For eample, i$
Nigeria alo$e, there are over ,== trade u$io$s a!!iliated to the Nigeria &rades ($io$ )o$gress%
&he )olo$ies i$ *hich the trade u$io$ moveme$t is most bac6*ard are precisely those *here
restrictio$s upo$ the right o! public assembly a$d moveme$t are most rigidly imposed% Pass la*s,
vagra$cy regulatio$s, pe$al sa$ctio$s, riotous assembly acts, all co$spire to ma6e it di!!icult, i! $ot
impossible, !or *or6ers to eercise their democratic right o! associatio$ a$d collective bargai$i$g% /t
is there!ore $ot surprisi$g that up to ,-.5 there *ere $ot more tha$ t*o registered u$io$s i$ De$ya,
o$e i$ (ga$da a$d t*o i$ &a$ga$yi6a%
/$ vie* o! all the di!!iculties it is the duty o! the more adva$ced trade u$io$s, especially those i$
0ritai$, to re$der every !rater$al support to these coloured *or6ers, *ho are to5day passi$g through
their &olpuddle period% #oreover, the 0ritish *or6i$g class have the great respo$sibility o! ma6i$g
every e!!ort to retrieve their cou$try3s ho$our, !or the ruli$g class o! their $atio$ have do$e
everythi$g by their ruthless eploitatio$ a$d oppressio$ o! the de!e$celess coloured *or6ers o! the
)olo$ial 9mpire to e$ge$der hostility bet*ee$ the sub@ect peoples a$d those o! the metropolis% &his
hostility ca$ o$ly be overcome i! the 0ritish *or6ers demo$strate i$ deeds a$d $ot merely i$ *ords
their sympathy *ith the )olo$ial *or6ers% /t is i$ their e$lighte$ed sel!5i$terest to do so, !or, as o$e
o! the spea6ers remi$ded the )o$!ere$ce, :Labour i$ the *hite s6i$ ca$$ot !ree itsel! *hile Labour
i$ the blac6 s6i$ is e$slaved%; O$ce this truism is accepted, the$ the desired bo$d bet*ee$ *or6ers
every*here, regardless o! colour or creed, *ill !i$d epressio$ i$ u$ity o! actio$ a$d purpose%
/$ this pamphlet *e have attempted to bri$g together the speeches a$d special reports prese$ted by
the )olo$ial delegates to the 'orld &rade ($io$ )o$!ere$ce% 'e !eel certai$ that this !orm o!
prese$tatio$ *ill help the 0ritish *or6i$g class better to appreciate some o! the problems *hich
co$!ro$t the )olo$ial *or6ers, a$d *hich they are ma6i$g stead!ast e!!orts to surmou$t% For *e
believe that the most e!!ective *ay o! arousi$g i$terest, sympathy a$d u$dersta$di$g !or the
coloured *or6ers is by placi$g at the disposal o! the *hite *or6ers docume$ted material *hich they
themselves have $ot the time or opportu$ity to delve out%
&his small co$tributio$ to public e$lighte$me$t has bee$ made possible through the ge$erosity o!
the Pa$5A!rica$ Federatio$, a$ orga$isatio$ o! A!rica$s a$d peoples o! A!rica$ desce$t i$ Great
0ritai$ *hich supports the e$deavours o! the )olo$ial peoples to create stro$g a$d virile trade u$io$
a$d co5operative moveme$ts as the most e!!ective mea$s o! adva$ci$g their eco$omic a$d social
*ell5bei$g%
7uly ?=th, ,-.5%
1( Discussion on &eace Settle'ent(
&he )o$!ere$ce ope$ed at )ou$ty +all, Lo$do$, at ,=%A= a%m% o$ &uesday, February 5th, ,-.5, a$d
*as presided over by #r% George /saacs, )hairma$ o! the 0ritish &rade ($io$ )o$gress, *ho
*elcomed the delegates i$ the $ame o! the 0ritish Labour #oveme$t% Greeti$gs *ere also brought
to the )o$!ere$ce by #r% Somerville +asti$gs, )hairma$ o! the Lo$do$ )ou$ty )ou$cil, a$d #r% )%
"% Attlee, deputisi$g !or the Prime #i$ister% &he !irst sub@ect o$ the age$da *as the Furthera$ce o!
the Allied 'ar 9!!ort, but it *as $ot u$til the 4eclaratio$ o$ the Attitude to the Peace Settleme$t
came be!ore the )o$!ere$ce that the voice o! the )olo$ial delegates *as heard%
A!ter a $umber o! delegates !rom the great States had spo6e$ o$ this latter sub@ect, #r% A% +ay*ood
o! the America$ )%/%O% delegatio$ brought !or*ard the !ollo*i$g motio$:
:&hat the ge$eral discussio$ be co$sidered closed a$d that )o$!ere$ce proceed immediately to the
appoi$tme$t o! a )ommittee%3;
/t *as at this poi$t that the )olo$ials, !eeli$g that the delegates !rom the great cou$tries 2 America$,
0ritai$, "ussia a$d Fra$ce 2 *ere attempti$g to close the discussio$ o$ the 8uestio$ o! the Peace
Settleme$t, *hich vitally a!!ected the !uture o! their cou$tries, *ithout their bei$g heard, dema$ded
a$ opportu$ity to address the )o$!ere$ce%
)r( *ohn +sfour BArab 'or6ers3 Society, Palesti$eC: #ay / poi$t out that you have heard speeches
!rom several delegates deali$g *ith di!!ere$t matters, especially *ith NaEi Germa$y, but you have
$ot yet heard the opi$io$ o! sub@ect $atio$sG / !eel that this )o$!ere$ce *ould be i$terested to hear
!rom them ho* i$ their vie* *orld peace could be made a$d mai$tai$ed% /t *as my desire to as6 this
)o$!ere$ce to hear me o$ this poi$t, a$d / do pray that / may be give$ the opportu$ity% /t is the !irst
time you *ill have heard a$ Arab%
)r( ,en -ill B7amaica &rades ($io$ )ou$cilC: / *ish to support the Arab delegatio$ !rom Palesti$e%
#uch has bee$ heard at this )o$!ere$ce !rom those *ho come !rom the ma@or $atio$s, but / have yet
to lear$ that the ma@or $atio$s have a mo$opoly o! *isdom *ith regard to the resettleme$t o! the
*orld% / stro$gly i$sist that a$ opportu$ity should be give$ to others, a$d particularly to
represe$tatives o! the 0ritish )ro*$ )olo$ies /t is u$thi$6able that this )o$!ere$ce should go o$
record as setti$g out its vie*s o$ the Peace Settleme$t *ithout ta6i$g i$to co$sideratio$ colo$ial
8uestio$s, *hich, *e submit, are the root cause o! *ar%
)r( +( -a$!ood B)o$gress o! /$dustrial Orga$isatio$s, AmericaC: 'e have $o desire to s*ay
a$ybody to our *ay o! @udgme$t% 'e !elt o$ly that the matter had bee$ discussed i$ a *ay *hich
*ould a!!ord e$lighte$me$t to the )ommittee% 0ut i! there is ob@ectio$ / am prepared to *ithdra*
the motio$ / have made% 'e do $ot claim to possess all the brai$s, eve$ though *e do come !rom the
($ited StatesH
At this stage the )o$!ere$ce ad@our$ed% 'he$ the $et sessio$ too6 place, #r% A 1iartides, delegate
o! the Pa$5)ypria$ &rade ($io$ )ommittee, *as called upo$ to address the )o$!ere$ce%
)r( +( .iartides: #r% Preside$t a$d )omrades, / bri$g greeti$gs to the )o$!ere$ce !rom the )yprus
&rade ($io$s a$d the )ypriot *or6i$g class% &he )yprus delegatio$ is i$ ge$eral agreeme$t *ith
*hat Sir 'alter )itri$e said o$ the pu$ishme$t o! aggressor $atio$s a$d particularly NaEi Germa$y
a$d /mperialist 7apa$% Fascism must be utterly destroyed !rom the !ace o! the earth% &he !orces
capable o! accomplishi$g this tas6 are the u$ited !ormatio$s o! the millio$s o! orga$ised *or6ers%
&he )o$!ere$ce is the 0rai$s &rust a$d the Ge$eral Sta!! o! the /$ter$atio$al &rade ($io$
#oveme$t% As such *e bear a heavy respo$sibility% Our deliberatio$s must lay the !ou$datio$s o! the
$e* *orld, but a *orld i$ *hich the *or6i$g class, all over the globe, *ill have the right to *or6
a$d live i$ !reedom a$d social @ustice% &o !ul!il this tas6, i$ter$atio$al trade u$io$ u$ity is absolutely
esse$tial% /t must be a u$ity built o$ solid !ou$datio$s, o$ the recog$itio$ o! the right o! all *or6ers,
*hatever their $atio$ality, to e$@oy the !ruits o! their labour i$ a *orld o! real !reedom% &his $e*
*orld must have $o room !or oppressors a$d colo$ial sub@ugatio$, !or as lo$g as there are oppressors
a$d oppressed there ca$ be $o peace, $o social @ustice, a$d $o !reedom% Iou, the represe$tatives o!
the *or6i$g people o! i$depe$de$t $atio$s, must !eel it your sacred duty to see to it that *e )olo$ial
peoples brea6 our chai$s a$d @oi$ you as !ree $atio$s% 'e desire that the pri$ciples o! the Atla$tic
a$d the &ehera$ 4eclaratio$s be applied, a$d that )yprus be $atio$ally rehabilitated a$d u$ited *ith
our #otherla$d, Greece% &his is the *ish o! the e$tire Gree6 populatio$ o! )yprus *hich mea$s
!ive5siths o! the people% 'e also dema$d that eleme$tary civil liberties5!reedom o! speech, o! the
press, o! orga$isatio$ a$d o! assembly5be restored to )yprus immediately%
/t may surprise you to hear that )yprus, a small isla$d o! .==,=== people, has ?=,=== soldiers
servi$g i$ the armies o! *orld democracy< a$d yet i$ )yprus today $o more tha$ !ive perso$s are
allo*ed to co$gregate *ithout permissio$ !rom the Authorities% Such permissio$ is re!used *he$ the
Gover$me$t 6$o*s that criticism may be levelled agai$st it% &he )yprus press ca$$ot publish $e*s
received !rom the Soviet, America$, Fre$ch, a$d other radios< *e are limited to $e*s !rom the
0%0%)% a$d the )airo 0roadcasti$g System% /s this deservi$g o! a people *ho have give$ o! their best
i$ this a$ti5Fascist *arG &o ma$y o! you )yprus may seem u$importa$t, but *he$ "ommel *as
6$oc6i$g at the doors o! Alea$dria, )yprus *as tur$ed i$to a !ortress a$d a bastio$, barri$g the
NaEi drive to the #iddle 9ast% 'e are a small cou$try, but our co$tributio$ to the a$ti5NaEi cause is
proportio$ately as great as that o! a$y o! the ($ited Natio$s% 'e !ought *ell a$d deserve *ell%
0ei$g Gree6, / co$sider it my duty to say a !e* *ords o$ Greece% / *ould have pre!erred that the
accredited represe$tatives o! the Gree6 &rade ($io$ #oveme$t had bee$ here to spea6 to you% &ime
*ill tell *ho has bee$ right i$ Greece% &he ordi$ary me$ a$d *ome$ i$ Greece, the people *ho
resisted the i$vaders !or three a$d a hal! years, are right% 9%L%A%S% 2 those !our letters have bee$
!orged i$ the blood a$d sacri!ice o! the Gree6 people i$ their epic struggle !or !reedom% ($der this
sloga$, :Liberty or 4eath,; they !ought three i$vaders a$d !i$ally co$8uered% / declare it is a crime
agai$st all *e have bee$ !ighti$g !or i$ this *ar *he$ the !irst people to be tried a$d se$te$ced to
death i$ Athe$s today are $ot the collaboratio$ists a$d Juisli$gs but the heroic a$ti5NaEi !ighters o!
the 9%L%AS%, the Natio$al People3s Army% &e$ mi$utes3 *al6 !rom this hall Gree6 seame$, trade
u$io$ists, that body o! me$ *ho have braved the (5boat *ar all these years, are bei$g tried by the
Gree6 #aritime )ourt at this mome$t% For *hatG For orga$isi$g &rade ($io$ committees o$ their
ships% /s that democracy a$d !reedomG
/$ co$clusio$, let me say this% &o build a sou$d a$d perma$e$t peace, Fascism a$d reactio$, u$der
*hatever guise, must be completely destroyed% &he root causes o! *ar, vested i$terests a$d
imperialism, must be crushed by the u$ited !orces o! the i$ter$atio$al *or6i$g5class% &he trade
u$io$s are the heavy artillery o! the Labour #oveme$t% Let them spea6 up%
The &resident: )omrades, / shall $et call #r% As!our o! the Palesti$e Arab 'or6ers3 Society, a$d
immediately a!ter him #r% De$ +ill o! 7amaica%
)r( *ohn +sfour BArab 'or6ers3 Society, Palesti$eC: #r% Preside$t, )omrades a$d &rade ($io$ists:
0e!ore / address you o$ the sub@ect $o* u$der discussio$, let me bri$g to you the u$a$imous a$d
heart!elt greeti$gs o! all the Arab *or6ers a$d peasa$ts i$ Palesti$e% Let me co$vey to you also their
si$cere a$d ear$est *ish !or the success o! this 'orld )o$!ere$ce $o* assembled% / am sure you *ill
ail be i$terested, to a small ete$t at least, to 6$o* ho* our &rade ($io$ #oveme$t has developed,
a$d although *e have bee$ u$der dual ma@or di!!iculties i$ Palesti$e *e have, tha$6s to the e!!orts
o! the Arab &rade ($io$s 2 the Arab *or6ers alo$e 2 succeeded% 'e bega$ our #oveme$t, li6e
every other i$ its i$!a$cy, *ith t*e$ty or thirty members o$ly, but $o* *e have o$ our registratio$s
some 5=,=== orga$ised labourers% / spo6e o! our di!!iculties a$d said they *ere dual% O$e o! them is
that *e have bee$ !or the last ?K years, as you 6$o*, gover$ed as a ma$dated territory, a$d you
6$o* *hat that mea$s% 'e have also the di!!iculty, the imme$se di!!iculty, created by the a$ti5labour
moveme$t o! 1io$ism i$ Palesti$e% Not*ithsta$di$g that, *e have, as / said, established ourselves
a$d improved the co$ditio$ o! labour, a$d have come, $ot *ith little toil, to be represe$ted at this
'orld )o$!ere$ce !or the !irst time%
'e have al*ays put it as our aim, i$ additio$ to the improveme$t o! *or6i$g co$ditio$s, that *e *ill
$ot be u$der the i$!lue$ce o! a$y political leader i$ our cou$try% 'e have it as our aim to orga$ise
a$d develop our #oveme$t a$d to bri$g the *or6ers up to that sta$dard *hich they deserve a$d
*hich they have ear$ed rightly, ho$estly, a$d *ith the toil a$d the s*eat o! their bro*s% No*,
comrades, the rival imperial i$terests have al*ays bee$ a cause o! trouble to the *hole *orld< they
have bee$ the cause o! u$rest a$d bloodshed all over the *orld a$d $ot least i$ the Arab cou$tries i$
the #iddle 9ast% 'he$ the !irst *ar *as imposed upo$ the !reedom5lovi$g peoples the Arabs too6
up the challe$ge% &hey !ought, a$d !ought to a success!ul co$clusio$, !or their !reedom, a$d they
have i$ !act succeeded, but o$ly !or a short *hile 2 yes, !or a very short *hile% Agai$ those
imperialist rival i$terests came i$, a$d i$stead o! the Arab cou$try bei$g liberated, bei$g
compe$sated !or the blood it had shed a$d !or the toil it had e$dured, it *as5a$d this is $o $e*s to
you, / am sure, but it is a matter o! remar6able i$terest5the Arab state *as mutilated< it *as divided
i$to !ive di!!ere$t areas, states, cou$ties, call them *hat you li6e, a$d the t*o pri$cipal Allied
Po*ers at that time had them%
/$ additio$ to this, there *as imposed o$ Palesti$e the establishme$t o! a 7e*ish Natio$al +ome%
&he repercussio$s !ollo*i$g this *ere $aturally e$ormous a$d co$ti$uous, a$d the Arabs remai$ed
i$ the !ore!ro$t, !ighti$g !or their !reedom% Not*ithsta$di$g the great di!!ere$ce *hich eisted
bet*ee$ Great 0ritai$ a$d the Arabs i$ Palesti$e, ho*ever, the Arabs sa$6 all those di!!ere$ces
because they realised that !reedom, $ot o$ly their !reedom but the !reedom o! the *hole *orld, *as
threate$ed by NaEism a$d Fascism a$d by all the aims they had i$ the *orld% So they rallied to the
call !or !reedom agai$% &he sovereig$ States o! the Arabs declared *ar o$ Germa$y, a$d *e i$
Palesti$e placed all our resources a$d all our la$d at the disposal o! the Allies !or !urtheri$g the *ar
e!!ort% Are the Arabs, $o* that this *ar agai$st tyra$$y a$d despotism is comi$g to a$ e$d, goi$g to
be treated i$ the same *ay as a!ter the last *ar, a$d is the Arab *or6i$g5class goi$g to be deserted
by their comrades, a$d the !ight that they themselves aba$do$ed, i$ the i$terests o! the *hole *orld,
reimposed upo$ themG Are the Arabs i$ Palesti$e goi$g to be le!t u$der the serious threat o! bei$g
ousted !rom their la$d, merely to satis!y the 1io$ist reactio$ary moveme$t, based o$ !a$tastic ideas
a$d !alse claimsG No*, comrades, leaders o! the liberatio$ moveme$ts a$d liberators o! the
oppressed $atio$s, let us thi$6 as !ree people, as people o! good*ill, as people *ho have set
themselves the tas6 o! relievi$g all the $atio$s o! the *orld !rom oppressio$ a$d despotism, as
people struggli$g to remove all class, racial a$d colour discrimi$atio$ 2 let us thi$6 a$d eami$e
*hether or $ot this moveme$t threate$i$g us i$ $ot o$ly reactio$ary but also destructive o! the
!u$dame$tal ideas a$d pri$ciples !or *hich *e are struggli$g a$d *hich *e are hopi$g to realise a$d
secure !or all ma$6i$d% &he persecutio$ o! 7e*s i$ 9urope the Arabs have al*ays deplored% &he
*or6i$g classes o! the Arabs have al*ays co$dem$ed a$y discrimi$atio$ bet*ee$ the di!!ere$t
races% /$deed, eve$ Arab politicia$s i$ their Alea$dria #a$i!esto, *hich *as proclaimed to the
*hole *orld o$ly a !e* mo$ths ago, epressed deep sympathy *ith the !amilies *ho have su!!ered
at the ha$ds o! the NaEis%
)r( ,en -ill B7amaica, &rades ($io$ )ou$cilC: #r% Preside$t, comrades a$d !ello* &rade
($io$ists: / bri$g you !rater$al greeti$gs !rom 7amaica i$ the 0ritish 'est /$dies, a$d *ish our
)o$!ere$ce every possible success% 7amaica is a small isla$d tuc6ed a*ay i$ the )aribbea$ Sea% 'e
are $ot $umerous 2 there are o$ly ,,5==,=== o! us 2 but *e colo$ial peoples 6$o* the value o!
!reedom a$d democracy, a$d *e are i$ the *or6i$g5class moveme$t to such a$ ete$t a$d have bee$
!ighti$g, *or6i$g, hopi$g a$d prayi$g so hard !or the ete$sio$ o! the Atla$tic )harter to all colo$ial
peoples, that / believe / am e$titled to ma6e some suggestio$ o$ colo$ial 8uestio$s !or the
co$sideratio$ o! this )o$!ere$ce%
/ *ould propose that a$y peace settleme$t ought to ta6e i$to accou$t the 8uestio$ o! sel!5
determi$atio$ !or all colo$ial a$d sub@ect peoples% Not o$e but all imperial po*ers ought to give a
de!i$ite pledge, a$ accepta$ce as a matter o! policy, that the peoples i$ the territories they admi$ister
are as rapidly adva$ced to sel!5gover$me$t as it is possible% /t *ould be use!ul, too, to co$sider
*hether time limits ought $ot to be !ied, by agreeme$t o! course, i$ order that this purpose might be
achieved *ithi$ a reaso$able time a$d $ot be u$duly delayed%
&here should be $o tra$s!er o! colo$ial peoples *ithout their co$se$t, co$sultatio$ or a plebiscite,
a$d through the proposed *orld orga$isatio$ !or the mai$te$a$ce o! peace there ought to be the right
o! i$vestigatio$ a$d i$terve$tio$ a$d some !orm o! co$trol by all the po*ers *ho are co$cer$ed i$
the mai$te$a$ce o! the peace o! the *orld%
&he colo$ial re8uireme$ts i$ social legislatio$ ought to be met, i$ my vie*, i$ this *ay% All social
legislatio$ i$ the ruli$g po*ers ought to be i$troduced i$ the colo$ies *ithi$ a speci!ied time, a$d
this moveme$t should go o$ simulta$eously% All eisti$g social legislatio$ i$ various colo$ies ought,
immediately hostilities cease, to be brought up to date a$d made u$i!orm throughout all the colo$ies%
Lastly, &rade ($io$s i$ the colo$ies ought to have the same rights a$d to be give$ the same
privileges, i$ practice as *ell as i$ theory, as ($io$s e$@oy i$ the ruli$g cou$tries%
No*, comrade delegates, / am $ot co$cer$ed at this stage to e$ter i$to a detailed discussio$ o! these
suggestio$s, but / do *ish to suggest a$d to emphasise most stro$gly that it *ould be u$thi$6able i!
this )o$!ere$ce, through its committees, did $ot put !or*ard some declaratio$ epressi$g
progressive vie*s o$ the colo$ial 8uestio$% &o do less *ould be to leave the *orld to be betrayed
i$to a$other *ar *ithi$ the $et or the prese$t ge$eratio$% &o crush Fascism every*here it may raise
its ugly, evil head, is the i$domitable purpose o! the !ree democratic &rade ($io$ #oveme$ts o! the
*orld% 0ut *e must go !urther tha$ that% 'e must ta6e care that, i$ our preoccupatio$ *ith this
historic tas6, *e do $ot !ail to ta6e steps a$d to use the i$!lue$ce o! the i$ter$atio$al *or6i$g5class
moveme$t to put a$ e$d to a$d see disco$ti$ued the system o! imperialist domi$atio$, *hatever
shape or !orm it may ta6e, so that i$ our ge$eratio$, perhaps, all the cou$tries o! all siEes a$d races
that are represe$ted at i$ter$atio$al co$!ere$ces li6e this, may sit as e8uals i$ truth a$d i$ !act, a$d
that *e may all be @udged, $ot o$ly by the siEe or the measure o! our co$tributio$s to arms a$d
supplies !or a *ar, but by the moral values *hich our u$ity a$d associatio$ ca$ e$ge$der !or lasti$g
peace a$d prosperity i$ the best i$terests o! the *or6i$g me$ a$d *ome$ o! the *orld%
/( Discussion on World Trade Union ederation
&he discussio$ o$ this most importa$t 8uestio$ *as ope$ed by #r% Syd$ey +illma$, leader o! the
)%/%O% delegatio$% &he vie*s o! the colo$ial delegates *ere epressed by #r% 7% S% A$$a$, o! the
Gold )oast "ail*ay )ivil Serva$ts a$d &ech$ical 'or6ers3 ($io$%
)r( *( S( +nnan: #r% )hairma$ a$d !ello* delegates: / bri$g to you !rater$al greeti$gs !rom the
*or6ers o$ the Gold )oast, *ho se$d you all the very best *ishes !or a success!ul )o$!ere$ce% &he
sub@ect :0asis !or a 'orld &rade ($io$ Federatio$,; is to my mi$d the core o! the deliberatio$s o!
this )o$!ere$ce% All the *or6ers o! the *orld are a$iously *aiti$g to hear this )o$!ere$ce
pro$ou$ce o$ the sub@ect% /t is a test case, a$d upo$ it depe$ds the @usti!icatio$ o! the hope a$d
co$!ide$ce *hich our !ello* *or6ers repose i$ us% &here is a commo$ agreeme$t o$ the $eed o! a
stro$g i$ter$atio$al Labour orga$isatio$, a$d / share the vie*s epressed by the leaders o! this
discussio$% /t is our co$sidered vie* that this i$ter$atio$al body should !irst o! all appreciate a$d
recog$ise the lasti$g values i$ the &rade ($io$ #oveme$ts i$ our cou$tries, a$d respect the 8ualities
a$d eperie$ce i$ each $atio$al orga$isatio$, ho*ever small the cou$try may be% Also it *ould be
$ecessary !or the orga$isatio$ to co$sider this: that the mome$t some o! us begi$ to co$sider that the
)olo$ies, such as the Gold )oast, are small a$d u$importa$t, / am a!raid it is the very mome$t that
i$ter$atio$al u$ity su!!ers a$d the stre$gth o! the #oveme$t becomes impaired% &he /$ter$atio$al
#oveme$t should preach a$d practice amo$gst its doctri$es the pri$ciple o! e8uality a$d the
!reedoms embodied i$ die Atla$tic )harter% Seco$dly, it must build a stro$g !orti!icatio$ arou$d its
members, *ith a stro$g a$d capable body o! leaders as se$ti$els to preve$t the spread o! Fascism
a$d /mperialism% Fascism is $ot the o$ly deadly political theory< /mperialism, *hich eists to eploit
the )olo$ies, is as bad a$d must at all costs be rigorously etirpated% /t is a$ e$emy o! &rade ($io$
ideals, a$d *e must determi$e to chec6 its attempt to e$croach upo$ the rights o! the /$ter$atio$al
Labour #oveme$t% &his #oveme$t should be i$ a positio$ to epose to the *hole *orld the subtle
evils o! /mperialism cu$$i$gly couched i$ popular political propaga$da activity% &he *or6ers o! the
($io$ that / represe$t are o! the vie* that a$ i$ter$atio$al orga$isatio$ o! Labour should be !ormed
immediately a$d there should be $o more delays, !or delays are da$gerous% &here should be a$ active
part played by all members o! the *or6i$g5classes a$d / appeal to the )o$!ere$ce to do all i$ its
po*er to set up die $ecessary machi$ery !or this all5importa$t /$ter$atio$al #oveme$t be!ore the
)o$!ere$ce dissolves o$ Friday%
)r( +( Rabino0it1 BGe$eral Federatio$ o! 7e*ish Labour, Palesti$eC: #r% Preside$t, )omrades: &he
Ge$eral Federatio$ o! 7e*ish Labour i$ Palesti$e has i$structed its delegates to this )o$!ere$ce to
give every support to the re5establishme$t o! !ull Labour u$ity i$ the *orld% &he people to *hich *e
belo$g have had the sad privilege o! bei$g the !irst, a$d probably the !oremost, victim o! NaEism%
'e 6$o* o$ly too *ell that the i$ter$al stri!e bet*ee$ *or6ers i$ the years bet*ee$ the t*o *ars
*as the most importa$t si$gle !actor i$ helpi$g +itler to po*er% &his is *hy *e are emphatically a$d
*hole5heartedly i$ !avour o! Labour u$ity, u$ity *ithi$ each $atio$ a$d each cou$try, a$d u$ity o$ a
*orld5*ide scale% &he developme$t o! the *orld &rade ($io$ #oveme$t i$ the last !e* decades
ma6es this u$ity more importa$t tha$ ever be!ore% Practically i$ every cou$try *here &rade ($io$s
eist i$ some stre$gth, they play their part i$ the ge$eral political li!e, i$ o$e !orm or a$other% &he
u$ity o! the Labour #oveme$t is $ot o$ly a vital i$strume$t i$ the struggle o! the *or6i$g class !or
better sta$dards o! *ages a$d labour co$ditio$s, *hich is i$ itsel! o! e$ormous value !or the
*or6ers< u$ity is also a $ecessary co$ditio$ !or the !ullest possible epressio$ o! the political
stre$gth o! the *or6i$g class% &his is *hy our Federatio$, *hich has al*ays bee$ a loyal member o!
the orga$ised i$ter$atio$al &rade ($io$ #oveme$t, a$d has *or6ed hard !or the i$ter$atio$al
solidarity o! the *or6ers i$ its o*$ cou$try, attaches so much importa$ce to this item o$ the age$da%
'e si$cerely hope that this )o$!ere$ce *ill discover the greatest possible amou$t o! good*ill a$d
determi$atio$ to achieve real a$d lasti$g u$ity, the case !or *hich *as so elo8ue$tly put by #r%
Sid$ey +illma$ i$ his ope$i$g speech%
No* / should li6e to re!er to a matter *hich seems to me to be o! great importa$ce to the proper
!u$ctio$i$g o! a *orld Labour orga$isatio$% /t is a vital $ecessity that the i$ter$atio$al &rade ($io$
#oveme$t should become a$ active source o! help a$d advice !or the *or6i$g classes o! the so5
called bac6*ard cou$tries% &he process o! i$dustrialisatio$, *hich bega$ there some years ago, has
gai$ed i$ stre$gth a$d tempo duri$g the *ar% #a$y colo$ial cou$tries, as *elt as some i$depe$de$t
States *ith patriarchal or !eudal systems o! society, are $o* !aci$g all the comple 8uestio$s o! the
moder$ i$dustrial age% As !ar as the #iddle 9ast is co$cer$ed, there *as $othi$g to prepare their
people !or this cha$ge a$d !or the burde$s *hich it i$volves% &here is $o Liberal middle5class< there
is $o "adical pro!essio$al class, a$d the ge$eral level o! the *or6i$g masses themselves ca$$ot be
compared *ith the level, !or eample, o! the 0ritish *or6ers at the time o! the i$dustrial revolutio$%
&he !eudal classes have ad@usted themselves !airly 8uic6ly to the $e* circumsta$ces, a$d i$ most
cases they are the leaders o! the various $e* i$dustries% At the same time, they are doi$g their best to
preserve their traditio$al hold over the body a$d soul o! their cou$tryme$, some o! *hom are
developi$g i$to i$dustrial *or6ers%
#y o*$ cou$try, Palesti$e, has some peculiar !eatures, due to 7e*ish immigratio$% 'e have, as
some o! you 6$o*, a *ell developed 7e*ish &rade ($io$ a$d )o5operative #oveme$t, *hich has
$ot o$ly succeeded i$ i$troduci$g a high sta$dard o! labour co$ditio$s *ithout parallel i$ that part o!
the *orld, but also mai$tai$s a *ide system o! mutual5aid i$stitutio$s, a$d has established a co5
operative agriculture a$d i$dustry o! its o*$% About ?= perce$t o! our male membership have
volu$teered !or the armed !orces% &here are i$ Palesti$e also begi$$i$gs o! a$ Arab &rade ($io$ism,
i$spired by the eample o!, a$d aided by, their 7e*ish !ello* *or6ers% &hese begi$$i$gs are still
small% &he Palesti$e Gover$me$t estimates the total $umber o! Arab *or6ers belo$gi$g to all the
various orga$isatio$s as ,?,===, but *e believe it *ill gro*% O$e o! these orga$isatio$s, the Palesti$e
Labour League, closely co5operates *ith our Federatio$% &heir represe$tative is atte$di$g this
)o$!ere$ce% &his special !eature does $ot radically cha$ge the ge$eral picture o! the #iddle 9ast%
&here is really little cha$ce o! a gradual evolutio$ary developme$t o! *or6ers3 orga$isatio$s i$ each
o! these cou$tries out o! their o*$ mea$s a$d resources% A slo* process o! this 6i$d *ould,
i$cide$tally, spell da$ger !or the achieveme$ts o! *or6ers i$ other, more developed cou$tries%
#oreover, the co$ce$tratio$ o! great $umbers o! i$dustrial *or6ers i$ certai$ areas o!!ers a stro$g
temptatio$ !or various !actio$s o! the ruli$g classes to eploit these masses !or political e$ds% /t is !or
this reaso$ that some Gover$me$ts i$ these cou$tries are ta6i$g good care to assure themselves o!
the co$trol over the &rade ($io$s% /t is !or this reaso$ that you o!te$ !i$d i$ co$trol o! *or6ers3
orga$isatio$s such people as *ealthy la*yers a$d la$do*$ers, or o!!spri$gs o! *ealthy la$do*$ers,
a$d eve$ pri$ces *ho are $ot su!!eri$g !rom a surplus o! social co$scie$ce%
A$d you must $ot !orget, comrades, that the cou$tries to *hich / am re!erri$g are !ar !rom real
democracy, eve$ though their )o$stitutio$s provide !or electio$s a$d parliame$ts% Some o! them
*ere u$der stro$g NaEi i$!lue$ce u$til the tur$ give$ to the *ar by 9l Alamei$ a$d Stali$grad% Si$ce
the$ there has bee$ a cha$ge o! !ro$t, but $o cha$ge too6 place i$ the social bac6grou$d or i$
i$ter$al politics% /$ o$e o! these cou$tries *hich / had occasio$ to visit, / *as deprived, o$ crossi$g
the border, o! a truly da$gerous boo6< it *as :O$e 'orld,; by 'e$dell 'ill6ie% / visited a$other
cou$try *hich is, at least theoretically, at *ar *ith Germa$y, but victims o! NaEi Germa$y are $ot
allo*ed to cross that cou$try i! they happe$ to be 7e*s% So you ca$ *ell imagi$e *hat Gover$me$t
co$trol over &rade ($io$s i$ such cou$tries may mea$%
0ut eve$ i$ colo$ial cou$tries there is, it seems, a good case agai$st Gover$me$t co$trol or
spo$sorship i$ relatio$ to &rade ($io$s% 'e all 6$o* ho* stro$gly 0ritish trade u$io$ists are
opposed to a$y Gover$me$t i$ter!ere$ce *ith their i$ter$al a!!airs% +o* much stro$ger must the
case agai$st such i$ter!ere$ce be i$ the )olo$ies, *here Gover$me$ts are i$ all social matters
laggi$g at least 5= years behi$d the mother cou$try%
'e very much appreciate the creatio$ o! Labour 4epartme$ts i$ the admi$istratio$s o! most o! the
0ritish )olo$ies% &his *as do$e, / believe, i$ respo$se to the dema$ds o! the 0ritish &rade ($io$s,
*hich also provided some o! their me$ to sta!! these departme$ts, a$d they are doi$g use!ul *or6%
0ut, comrades, the prese$ce o! a trade u$io$ist i$ the service o! a )olo$ial Admi$istratio$ ca$$ot
really cha$ge the ge$eral character o! this admi$istratio$% / could see i$ my o*$ cou$try that it did
$ot preve$t the Gover$me$t !rom le$di$g its support to orga$isatio$s *hich are passio$ately
opposed to every !orm o! co5operatio$ bet*ee$ Arab a$d 7e*ish *or6ers, a$d sometimes eve$ ta6e
the side o! the employers agai$st their !ello* *or6ers% As !or co$clusio$s, it seems to me that a
*orld &rade ($io$ orga$isatio$ could $ot rest co$te$t a$d co$!i$e its activities i$ this respect to
care!ul eami$atio$ o! the bo$a !ides o! &rade ($io$ orga$isatio$s *hich apply !or a!!iliatio$% / !eel
8uite certai$ that *e shall have a great ma$y moc6 &rade ($io$s i$ the $e* i$dustrial cou$tries,
u$less the /$ter$atio$al &rade ($io$ #oveme$t *ill shoulder the burde$ o! guidi$g a$d advisi$g the
a*a6e$i$g *or6i$g people% &his is a tas6 o! treme$dous importa$ce, a$d / *ould stro$gly urge this
)o$!ere$ce to adopt it as part o! the policy to be pursued by the 'orld &rade ($io$ orga$isatio$% 'e
must all *or6 !or the day *he$ $e* millio$s o! !ello* *or6ers *ill @oi$ us as e8uals i$ the *orld
!amily o! orga$ised *or6ers%

2( Colonials Challenge )essage to #ig Three
O$ the a!ter$oo$ o! February ,Ath, *hile the discussio$ o$ the !ormatio$ o! the Ne* /$ter$atio$al
*as i$ progress, #r% "eid "obi$so$, o$ behal! o! the )ommittee o$ Sta$di$g Orders prese$ted to the
)o$!ere$ce the tet o! a telegram o! greeti$gs addressed to Preside$t "oosevelt, #arshal Stali$ a$d
Prime #i$ister )hurchill, at that time i$ co$!ere$ce at Ialta% &he tet o! the telegram prese$ted !or
the approval o! the )o$!ere$ce reads:
:&he delegates !rom thirty5!ive cou$tries atte$di$g the 'orld &rade ($io$ )o$!ere$ce i$ Lo$do$
a$d represe$ti$g over sity millio$ *or6ers o! the !reedom5lovi$g cou$tries have lear$ed *ith deep
satis!actio$ the results o! the )rimea )o$!ere$ce% 'e hail the a$$ou$ceme$t that the leaders o! the
0ritish, ($ited States a$d Soviet $atio$s, together *ith their ge$eral sta!!s, have agreed o$ measures
!or eve$ !urther accelerati$g the *ar agai$st +itlerite Germa$y a$d bri$gi$g it to a speedy a$d
victorious co$clusio$% 'e !ully support your declaratio$ that every vestige o! the hate!ul Fascist
regime must be eradicated a$d the practical measures *hich you have adopted to bri$g about this
result a$d to guara$tee that it shall be uprooted a$d completely destroyed%
:'e *elcome your determi$atio$ to proceed at o$ce to per!ect a$ i$ter$atio$al orga$isatio$, alo$g
the li$es o! the 4umbarto$ Oa6s proposal, to preve$t aggressio$ a$d mai$tai$ peace%
:'e are i$ !ull accord *ith your declaratio$ o$ liberated 9urope to assure to the people o! the
liberated la$ds !ullest democracy a$d sel!5determi$atio$%
:&he great achieveme$ts o! the )rimea )o$!ere$ce a$d the u$a$imity o! its historic decisio$s !ully
co$!irm the !aith o! all !reedom5lovi$g people that the problems o! *i$$i$g speedy victory i$ the
*ar a$d establishi$g a @ust a$d e$duri$g peace ca$ a$d *ill be solved, a$d all di!!iculties overcome%
:#eeti$g here i$ Lo$do$, to per!ect the u$ity a$d close collaboratio$ o! the *or6i$g people o! the
!reedom5lovi$g $atio$s, *e pledge our !ull support to you i$ carryi$g out the decisio$s *hich you
have reached%
:'e pledge ourselves to guard a$d protect the u$ity o! the ($ited Natio$s i$ *ar a$d i$ peace, a$d
to *or6 together u$ceasi$gly to secure our great commo$ ob@ectives 2 speedy victory a$d a$
e$duri$g peace%;
&he Lice5Preside$t as6ed i! the )o$!ere$ce agreed, upo$ *hich #r% As!our, voici$g the se$time$ts
o! the colo$ial peoples, as6ed !or the !ollo*i$g passage to be i$cluded:
)r( *ohn +sfour: :&he )o$!ere$ce also $otes *ith deep satis!actio$ the right o! all peoples to
choose the !orm o! Gover$me$t u$der *hich they *ill live%; /$ this telegram there is $othi$g
me$tio$ed about this, it o$ly re!ers to 9urope% #ay such a$ ame$dme$t be added to the telegramG
)r( 3( T( +( Wallace *ohnson BSierra Leo$e &%(%)%C: / rise to support the additio$ made by the Arab
delegate% /t is esse$tial that this )o$!ere$ce should register its support o! the dema$d o! the colo$ial
peoples !or their right to choose the !orm o! Gover$me$t u$der *hich they *ill live as *as
e$u$ciated i$ )lause A o! the Atla$tic )harter%
The Vice4&resident: / suggest that the telegram be re!erred bac6 to the )ommittee a$d that the
delegates *ho *ish to ma6e the alteratio$ should go to the )ommittee% 4o you agree to thatG
)r( +sfour: / ma6e this move i$ ope$ )o$!ere$ce a$d / have stated $othi$g more tha$ has bee$
determi$ed by the 0ig &hree% / submit to the )o$!ere$ce that there is $o $ecessity !or this to go bac6
to the )ommittee% / plead that this ame$dme$t be i$serted%
)r( %eorge 3saacs B0ritish &rades ($io$ )o$gressC: / *ould dra* your atte$tio$ to the !act that t*o
groups o! delegates have approved the docume$t as prese$ted, but i! you se$d it bac6 to the
)ommittee, *ith the proviso that those *ho have made their observatio$s should have the right to go
be!ore the )ommittee, a$d give the )ommittee po*er to se$d it o!!, it *ill save the time o! this
)o$!ere$ce a$d e$able it to be se$t today%
)r( Wallace *ohnson: / support the appeal made by our Arab )omrade% &here is $o poi$t i$
re!erri$g it to the )ommittee% 'e ca$ approve it a$d the )ommittee ca$ i$sert it%
)r( R( +( ,hedgi5ar BAll5/$dia &%(%)%C: /s there a$y ob@ectio$ to this ame$dme$tG
)r( L( Saillant BGe$eral )o$!ederatio$ o! Labour, Fra$ceC B&ra$slatio$C: / do $ot thi$6 there ca$ be
a$y oppositio$ to the ame$dme$t that has bee$ prese$ted because *e are all i$spired here by the
most democratic ideals possible% &here is a$ old Fre$ch Proverb *hich says :Iou should $ot be
more "oyalist tha$ the Di$g,; a$d / *ould cha$ge that to say that *e should $ot be more democratic
here tha$ the great represe$tatives o! the $atio$s *ho have met together a$d ta6e$ the most historic
decisio$ i$ the history o! democratic peoples% / *ould as6 our comrades !rom Palesti$e a$d Nigeria
to trust the )ommittee *hich has prese$ted this dra!t resolutio$, a resolutio$ *hich should be
applauded a$d regarded *ith delight by all the delegates at this )o$!ere$ce because it is the
epressio$ o! the co$!ide$ce o! the 'orld &rade ($io$ )o$!ere$ce i$ the great democratic $atio$s
*hich have ta6e$ the decisio$%
)r( Robinson B"eporter o! the )ommitteeC: #r% )hairma$ a$d delegates: 'e are i$ the seco$d day
o! the seco$d *ee6 o! this )o$!ere$ce a$d time is short% / !eel that as *e have some very importa$t
sub@ects to discuss / should suggest as )hairma$ o! the )ommittee that this be re!erred bac6 to the
)ommittee, as6i$g it to bear i$ mi$d that there has bee$ *orld5*ide recog$itio$ o! the pri$ciples
co$tai$ed i$ the Atla$tic )harter a$d that this speci!ic sectio$ o! the telegram shall co$!orm to the
pri$ciples e$u$ciated i$ the Atla$tic )harter% 'ith that u$dersta$di$g the )ommittee *ill redra!t this
sectio$ o! the telegram% /! the )o$!ere$ce approve that sectio$, they *ill the$ se$d the *ire *ith
those pri$ciples co$tai$ed therei$%
The Vice4&resident: /t is recomme$ded that it goes bac6 to the )ommittee *ith the i$structio$s o!
the spea6ers% 'ill those i$ agreeme$t *ith this recomme$datio$ please say :Aye%; BAye%C
&he decisio$ is adopted%
#r% "obi$so$ later reported to the )o$!ere$ce that the )ommittee reco$sidered the telegram *hich
*as to be despatched to Prime #i$ister )hurchill, Preside$t "oosevelt a$d #arshal Stali$, a$d too6
i$to co$sideratio$ the ob@ectio$s *hich *ere made, a$d i$ order to satis!y those ob@ectio$s li!ted
!rom the docume$t the !act that *as agreed upo$ *hich a$s*ered the ob@ectio$s o! the delegate a$d
i$serted the provisio$ o! the Atla$tic )harter *herei$ all peoples may have the right to choose their
o*$ Gover$me$ts% 'e !elt that because o! the u$iversal accepta$ce o! the pri$ciples o! the Atla$tic
)harter that that *ould satis!y everyo$e, so *e have despatched the *ire to these three ho$ourable
ge$tleme$ i$ order that it *ill reach them at the most timely hour%
The Vice4&resident: All those *ho agree *ith the ame$dme$t say :Aye%; BAye%C
4( Citrine6s Ten4&oint &rogra''e
A!ter the protracted discussio$ o$ the tet o! the telegram to the 0ig &hree, Sir 'alter )itri$e,
Secretary o! the &rades ($io$ )o$gress a$d leader o! the 0ritish 4elegatio$, addressed the
)o$!ere$ce o$ the 8uestio$ o! the Ne* /$ter$atio$al% +e submitted a &e$5Poi$t Programme as the
basis o! the $e* !ederatio$:
,% &hat a Provisio$al )ommittee, !ully represe$tative o! the Natio$al )e$tres a$d the
/$ter$atio$al bodies represe$ted at this )o$!ere$ce should be immediately established%
?% &he )ommittee shall comme$ce its *or6 immediately o$ the co$clusio$ o! this )o$!ere$ce%
/ts !u$ctio$s shall be to co5ordi$ate the recomme$datio$s o! the )o$!ere$ce a$d submit them
to the co$stitue$t bodies !or rati!icatio$%
A% &he Provisio$al )ommittee shall act as the i$terim authority !or the 'orld &rade ($io$
)o$!ere$ce%
.% /t shall be empo*ered to ma6e such collective represe$tatio$s to the Gover$me$ts o! Great
Po*ers, !or eample, (%S%A%, (%S%S%"%, Great 0ritai$, Fra$ce a$d )hi$a, as circumsta$ces
may $ecessitate%
5% /t shall be the body to impleme$t such o! the )o$!ere$ce recomme$datio$s as are adopted by
the co$stitue$t bodies%
>% /t shall prepare a dra!t co$stitutio$ !or the proposed 'orld &rade ($io$ Federatio$%
K% /t shall circulate this dra!t co$stitutio$ !or approval to the co$stitue$t bodies, givi$g
opportu$ity to these to submit ame$dme$ts i! they so desire%
8% &he )ommittee shall be empo*ered to appoi$t such sub5committees as it may deem
$ecessary%
-% /t shall be empo*ered to call a )o$!ere$ce !or co$sideratio$ o! a$y ame$dme$ts a$d !or the
adoptio$ o! the !i$al )o$stitutio$%
,=% /t shall be empo*ered to co$ve$e a$ emerge$cy )o$!ere$ce should, i$ the opi$io$ o! the
Provisio$al )ommittee, *orld developme$ts $ecessitate such a course%
/ have suggested that the )ommittee should be composed o! eightee$ members: ($ited States o!
America, ?< ($io$ o! Soviet Socialist "epublics, ?< Great 0ritai$, ?< Fra$ce, ?< "est o! 9urope, ,<
)hi$a, ,< 0ritish )ommo$*ealth, ?< Lati$ America$ Federatio$ o! Labour, ?< /$ter$atio$al
Federatio$ o! &rade ($io$s, ?< /$ter$atio$al &rade Secretariats, ?%
&he )ommittee *ould have po*er to co5opt o$ the pri$ciple already adopted by this )o$!ere$ce
such other i$terests as circumsta$ces may re8uire *ho are represe$ted i$ the )o$!ere$ce%
/ prese$t these proposals o$ behal! o! the 0ritish &%(%)% delegatio$, a$d / believe that they *ill
e!!ectively bridge the i$terve$i$g period that must $ecessarily e$sue be!ore a$ all i$clusive &rade
($io$ /$ter$atio$al ca$ be established%
/ suggest that these poi$ts be remitted to the )ommissio$ !or co$sideratio$%
)r( T( +( #an5ole BNigeria$ &rades ($io$ )o$gressC: Fully co$scious o! my duty as a
represe$tative o! the *or6i$g5class moveme$t o! Nigeria / come !or*ard to place o$ record the
vie*poi$t o! the *or6ers o! that cou$try o$ the importa$t 8uestio$ o! the !ormatio$ o! a$
i$ter$atio$al &rade ($io$ orga$isatio$ i$ *hich all the &rade ($io$s or &rade ($io$ groups o! the
*orld *ill eve$tually ta6e a place, $o matter *he$ce they derive% At this @u$cture i$ *orld a!!airs,
*he$ labour has ador$ed its o*$ history *ith glorious achieveme$ts i$ the struggle to overthro*
Fascism a$d to establish e$duri$g peace, the *or6ers o! the *orld ca$$ot but come together i$ order
to be i$ a positio$ to co$tribute collectively to the establishme$t a$d mai$te$a$ce o! that peace: &hat
is *hy / thi$6 the !ormatio$ o! a$ i$ter$atio$al &rade ($io$ orga$isatio$ is at this mome$t a prime
$ecessity a$d / have $o doubt this )o$!ere$ce is u$a$imous o$ that poi$t% &he esse$tial thi$g, the$,
is the basis o$ *hich such a$ orga$isatio$ should be !ormed i! it must be epected to supply the
collective $eeds o! the *orld3s *or6i$g5classes a$d at o$ce !oster u$iversal peace a$d co$cord% &his
is the supreme tas6 at the mome$t, a$d *e must grapple *ith it i$ a spirit be!itti$g si$cere pla$$ers
o! the !uture desti$y o! commo$ peoples% Our i$ter$atio$al &rade ($io$ orga$isatio$ must be
!ou$ded o$ the basis o! e8ual treatme$t !or all a!!iliated bodies a$d their represe$tatives regardless
o! the cou$tries !rom *hich they derive, a$d must be $urtured i$ a$ atmosphere o! mutual regard,
discipli$e a$d ca$dour% /t must 6eep a$ ope$ door !or all approved Labour orga$isatio$s !u$ctio$i$g
i$ all la$ds%
/t *ill be the tas6 o! our i$ter$atio$al &rade ($io$ orga$isatio$ BaC to e$courage the gro*th o! the
&rade ($io$ #oveme$t i$ all la$ds by preve$ti$g such discrimi$atio$ agai$st associatio$s o!
i$dige$ous *or6ers as his hitherto bee$ the case i$ such cou$tries as South A!rica, Norther$
"hodesia a$d the ($ited States o! America *ith particular re!ere$ce to the A%F%L%< BbC to e$sure that
all *or6ers, particularly those o! depe$de$t areas, are employed u$der co$ditio$s !avouri$g ge$eral
prosperity< BcC to devise mea$s o! harmo$isi$g the *or6ers, the employers a$d their respective
Gover$me$ts *ith a vie* to !osteri$g labour e!!icie$cy a$d collective bargai$i$g, a$d BdC to give
reaso$able bac6i$g to the aspiratio$s o! colo$ial *or6ers to i$ter$al sel!5gover$me$t i$ their
respective cou$tries% /t is also importa$t that our i$ter$atio$al &rade ($io$ orga$isatio$ should
declare itsel! solidly i$ !avour o! the declaratio$s o! Philadelphia a$d the Atla$tic )harter a$d should
urge their progressive a$d steady applicatio$ to co$ditio$s i$ )olo$ial areas as its surety that it *ill
be able, as a$ i$ter$atio$al body, to advertise itsel! as si$cerely motivated a$d determi$ed to usher i$
a $e* *orld order devoid o! u$employme$t, i$tolera$ce, poverty a$d *a$t, ig$ora$ce a$d eco$omic
a$d political i$solve$cy% Our i$ter$atio$al &rade ($io$ orga$isatio$ must boldly !ace the great tas6
o! dema$di$g that all the territories that have bee$ called upo$ so u$s*ervi$gly to combat Fascism
Bthese i$cludi$g the colo$iesC shall e$@oy to the !ull the approachi$g peace a$d such adva$tages as
are li6ely to !ollo* i$ its *a6e% 0ut our i$ter$atio$al &rade ($io$ orga$isatio$ should see the
*isdom $ot o! despisi$g a$y eisti$g /$ter$atio$al, but o! appreciati$g its *or6 a$d dra*i$g upo$ its
*ealth o! valuable eperie$ce so as to e$sure rapid progress a$d success%
Fi$ally, / am !ully co$vi$ced that our i$ter$atio$al &rade ($io$ orga$isatio$, !ou$ded o$ the basis o!
e8uality, @ustice a$d e8uity, *ill be able to co$tribute substa$tially to the establishme$t a$d
mai$te$a$ce o! that lasti$g peace o! *hich the *orld has hitherto stood i$ $eed a$d to e$sure !or
every *or6i$g perso$ a$ acceptable livi$g sta$dard% )omrades, let us address ourselves to this great
tas6 *ith e8ually great determi$atio$%
5( &ost4War Reconstruction
&he last item o! ge$eral discussio$ *as the 8uestio$ o! post5*ar reco$structio$ a$d immediate trade
u$io$ dema$ds% Several )olo$ial delegates too6 part i$ this discussio$%
)r( 3( T( +( Wallace4*ohnson BSierra Leo$e &%(%)%C: / sta$d here to register the good *ishes a$d
!rater$al greeti$gs o! the *or6ers a$d peasa$t populatio$ o! 'est A!rica a$d o! Sierra Leo$e i$
particular, o$e o! the most suppressed a$d repressed sectio$s o! the 0ritish )olo$ial 9mpire% / have
observed that i$ this )o$!ere$ce the colo$ial peoples have bee$ re!erred to as small $atio$s% / do
submit that *e are !ar !rom bei$g small, $umerically spea6i$g *e are very great, a$d i$dustrially
spea6i$g *e are greater still% Sierra Leo$e, *hich / represe$t, a$d the Gold )oast, are the greatest
iro$5ore produci$g cou$tries o! the *orld% /!, there!ore, the Allied $atio$s are loo6i$g to victory i$
this prese$t 9uropea$ co$!lict, / mai$tai$ that the )olo$ial 9mpire a$d 'est A!rica i$ particular has
co$tributed a great deal to the impe$di$g victory% /t is, there!ore, $ecessary that this )o$!ere$ce
should give special co$sideratio$ to the positio$ o! the colo$ial peoples a$d especially the colo$ial
*or6ers% /t is u$$ecessary !or me to reiterate the di!!iculties *hich *e eperie$ce i$ the colo$ies as
regards the establishme$t o! &rade ($io$s% O$ly a !e* *ee6s ago / mysel! *as liberated a!ter a
period o! !ive years i$ i$ter$me$t, impriso$me$t a$d eile, all because / have bee$ a &rade ($io$
leader% &his )o$!ere$ce, there!ore, has $o* to co$sider the sub@ect o! post5*ar reco$structio$ a$d
the immediate dema$ds o! the *or6i$g5class% / am submitti$g o$ behal! o! mysel! a$d my o*$
colo$y a$d the other colo$ial delegates *ho have bee$ appoi$ted to ta6e part i$ this )o$!ere$ce, the
!ollo*i$g propositio$% / am doi$g this because *e realise that labour i$ the *hite s6i$ ca$$ot be
ema$cipated *hile labour i$ the blac6 s6i$ is e$slaved% 'e, the colo$ial delegates, appeal to this
'orld )o$!ere$ce to assist you i$ the 0ritish )olo$ial 9mpire a$d i$ all the )olo$ial territories i$
the *orld i$ buildi$g up a stro$g a$d i$depe$de$t &rade ($io$ #oveme$t *hich *ill provide the
o$ly guara$tee that the social a$d eco$omic *ell5bei$g o! the colo$ial5*or6ers *ill be sa!eguarded
a$d adva$ced%
As a$ eleme$tary gesture o! solidarity *ith the oppressed a$d eploited millio$s o! i$dustrial a$d
agricultural *or6ers i$ the colo$ies i$ Asia, A!rica, the )aribbea$, the Paci!ic /sla$ds, 0ritish
Guia$a, #auritius, a$d )eylo$, *e appeal to this )o$!ere$ce to e$dorse a$d support the !ollo*i$g
immediate dema$ds: B,C the abolitio$ o! the colour bar a$d racial discrimi$atio$ i$ public a$d
private employme$t< B?C the abolitio$ o! !orced labour, child labour peo$age a$d all !orms o! slavery
ope$ a$d disguised< BAC the abolitio$ o! !loggi$g a$d other !orms o! pu$ishme$t !or breach o! labour
co$tracts as *ell as pe$al sa$ctio$s !or such breaches% 'e as6 also that you should support a$d
e$dorse the $ecessity !or the abolitio$ o! la*s directed agai$st the right o! !ree assembly, !ree
speech, !ree press a$d !ree moveme$t, a$d that those !reedoms should be established% &hese are
some o! the di!!iculties *hich *e colo$ial peoples have to !ace% 'e are dema$di$g also e8ual pay
!or e8ual *or6, irrespective o! race, creed, colour or se% 'e as6 !or the abolitio$ o! restrictio$s
agai$st the admissio$ o! A!rica$s a$d coloured *or6ers i$to eisti$g &rade ($io$s, such as those
operati$g i$ South A!rica% 'herever such restrictio$s co$ti$ue, *e as6 that A!rica$s a$d coloured
*or6ers should have the right accorded to them to @oi$ a$d support &rade ($io$s%
Last but $ot least, *e as6 that &rade ($io$ a$d social legislatio$ eisti$g i$ colo$ial areas should be
brought i$to li$e *ith that eisti$g i$ metropolita$ areas, or co$versely that the same &rade ($io$
a$d social legislatio$ obtai$i$g i$ metropolita$ cou$tries should be applied to the colo$ial territories%
&o guara$tee the impleme$tatio$ o! these dema$ds *e delegates !rom the colo$ies 2 / am spea6i$g
!or every delegate here 2 as6 that this )o$!ere$ce e$dorse the pri$ciple o! sel!5determi$atio$ !or the
colo$ial peoples as e$u$ciated i$ )lause A o! the Atla$tic )harter, $amely, that they respect the right
o! all peoples to choose the !orm o! Gover$me$t u$der *hich they *ill live a$d that they *ill see
sovereig$ rights o! sel!5gover$me$t restored to those *ho have bee$ !orcibly deprived o! them% 'e
!urther as6 that this )o$!ere$ce shall call upo$ the sig$atories o! the Atla$tic )harter *ho are i$
possessio$ o! colo$ial territories to declare a time limit *he$ the pri$ciple shall be tra$slated i$to
practice% 7ustice, li6e peace, is i$divisible a$d the *orld today ca$$ot remai$ hal! !ree a$d hal! slave%
'e urge this claim because *e !irmly believe that o$e o! the mai$ causes o! moder$ *ar is the
co$!lict over colo$ies 2 a co$!lict *hich ca$ be resolved most @udicially by applyi$g the pri$ciple o!
sel!5determi$atio$ to the i$habita$ts o! such areas% /$ this *ay *e !eel that the !uture *orld peace
*ill $ot o$ly be mai$tai$ed but perma$e$tly secured%
)r( T( +( #an5ole: #r% Preside$t a$d comrades: &he approach o! the e$d o! this lo$g5dra*$: a$d
hard5!ought *ar has !illed the hearts o! all lovers o! peace a$d !reedom *ith bright hopes o! a $e*
*orld i$ *hich aggressio$, race persecutio$, a$d oppressio$ o! the *ea6 are to have $o place
*hatsoever% 'e all epect to be relieved< !or $o$e but the most heartless o! huma$ bei$gs *ould
relish the horrors o! *ar a$d the humiliatio$ o! !oreig$ domi$atio$ a$d !ugitive li!e% Post5*ar
9urope i$ her earliest period *ill u$doubtedly be completely absorbed i$ the great *or6 o! restori$g
her battered cities, read@usti$g her eco$omy, re5distributi$g her co$scripted labour !orce, reshapi$g
the basis o! her social a$d political li!e, re5educati$g her youths, a$d re5stati$g her cultural
philosophy% She *ill be called upo$ to !ace the di!!icult problem o! resettli$g her brave !ighti$g me$
called up !rom their various pre5*ar @obs% Obviously, post5*ar 9urope, over*helmed *ith the
di!!iculties o! early post5*ar years, *ill call !or imme$se physical a$d me$tal e!!ort a$d a great pool
o! material resources i$ order to stabilise her $atio$al li!e% O$e ca$$ot get a*ay !rom the !act that the
*or6ers a$d the armed !orces o! 9uropea$ cou$tries that have bor$e the bru$t o! NaEi militarism
have every right to hope !or a stable post5*ar 9urope, capable o! assuri$g them o! a really happy li!e
!or *hich they have very dilige$tly laboured a$d gravely su!!ered% ($doubtedly, these remar6s
respecti$g 9urope apply e8ually to Asia, America, A!rica, Australia, a$d Ne* 1eala$d, *hose
peoples have made a$d are still ma6i$g imme$se co$tributio$s to*ards the *i$$i$g o! the peace% All
o! these co$ti$e$ts, ecepti$g A!rica, are i$ every *ay privileged, $atio$ally a$d i$ter$atio$ally, to
solve their post5*ar problems as *ill best serve their social, eco$omic a$d political i$terests, by
virtue o! their e$@oyi$g truly democratic Gover$me$ts% 2 /t is my u$shir6able duty, e8ually as it is
that o! my !ello* delegates !rom the colo$ies, to e$sure that the peoples o! the colo$ies are $ot
$eglected, $or have their i$terests aba$do$ed i$to the ha$ds o! pro!it5i$toicated mo$opolies i$ the
post5*ar years% &he 8uestio$ most li6ely to be raised is, :'hat co$tributio$s have the )olo$ies made
i$ prosecuti$g the *ar, a$d have these co$tributio$s bee$ as ta$gible as to e$title them to the
atte$tio$ o! the Great Po*ers%; / shall a$s*er this 8uestio$ very brie!ly i$ the light o! 6$o*$ !acts%
&he colo$ial Gover$me$ts, loyally supporti$g the metropolita$ cou$tries, promptly, properly a$d
spo$ta$eously associated themselves *ith the declaratio$ o! *ar o$ Germa$y, /taly, 7apa$ a$d all
their satellite States, a$d pledged themselves to support the *ar e!!ort to the utmost o! their ability%
Accordi$gly, they have bee$, a$d still are, co$tributi$g to the utmost o! their stre$gth i$ ma$po*er,
ra* materials a$d !oodstu!!s, labour !or *ar5*or6 a$d armame$t !actories, a$d mo$ey out o! their
poor !i$a$cial resources% )olo$ial *or6ers have bee$ made to submit to some ob$oious regulatio$s
restricti$g certai$ o! their &rade ($io$ rights% )olo$ial youths, i$ their $umerous thousa$ds, have
e$listed a$d are still e$listi$g i$ the armed !orces, layi$g do*$ their lives i$ the i$terest o! approved
democratic ideals% +istory is recordi$g the great deeds o! these me$ a$d stal*art youths% A$d *hat
else ca$ bear a more elo8ue$t testimo$y to the ta$gible co$tributio$s bei$g made by the colo$ial
cou$tries, a$d @usti!y their claims to a place i$ the post5*ar scheme o! thi$gsG
&hose co$tributio$s prese$t a po*er!ul challe$ge to the moral co$scie$ce o! the Great Po*ers, *ho
should be re8uested by this )o$!ere$ce to revise, rather drastically, the very !u$dame$tals o! their
colo$ial policy% &he )o$!ere$ce *ill thus be a$s*eri$g the !orce!ul call made by )omrade "eid
"obi$so$ BLice5Preside$t o! the )%/%O%C i$ these preg$a$t *ords: :'e must !ight !or political a$d
eco$omic democracy throughout the *orld%; &he post5*ar dema$ds to be made by this )o$!ere$ce
o$ the ruli$g $atio$s i$ all parts o! the *orld must be comprehe$sive a$d must stress certai$ o! the
mai$ problems relati$g to the colo$ies, $amely: BaC strict prohibitio$ o! the )olour 0ar at prese$t
operati$g i$ various !orms a$d i$ varyi$g degrees agai$st the i$dige$ous populatio$s, a$d removal
o! every vestige o! !orced a$d child labour a$d all other !orms o! ob@ectio$able labour co$ditio$s< BbC
establishme$t o! the pri$ciples o! :98ual pay !or e8ual *or6, *ithout discrimi$atio$ because o!
$atio$ality, race or se;< BcC e$courageme$t o! the establishme$t a$d gro*th o! the &rade ($io$
#oveme$t as a de!e$sive machi$ery agai$st labour eploitatio$< BdC i$troductio$ o! adult su!!rage
a$d removal o! i$come 8uali!icatio$ as a mea$s o! e$titli$g all *or6ers a$d tapayers to participate
i$ the admi$istratio$ o! their cou$tries, a$d recog$itio$ o! their right to choose the Gover$me$t
u$der *hich they shall live democratically%
&o haste$ ge$eral progress i$ the colo$ies, comprehe$sive educatio$al schemes should be re8uested
!rom the colo$ial po*ers% /t is i$cumbe$t o$ this gatheri$g o! the represe$tatives o! the *orld3s
*or6i$g5classes solidly to support these straight!or*ard, simple dema$ds, si$ce they by $o mea$s
violate recog$ised democratic pri$ciples i$ de!e$ce o! *hich so much labour has bee$ spe$t a$d so
much i$$oce$t blood spilled% &he cause o! !reedom i$ the colo$ies is as importa$t as it is i$ liberated
cou$tries% Let it there!ore $ever be recorded i$ history that this )o$!ere$ce, !rom sheer lac6 o! moral
stami$a, has !u$6ed a$d !ailed to plead the righteous cause o! the colo$ial peoples%
)r( S( ,( &ra'ani5 BAll5/$dia &rades ($io$ )o$gressC: #r% Preside$t, !ello* delegates a$d
comrades: #y hearty greeti$gs to you% /t is $eedless to emphasise that the imme$se destructio$ o!
me$ a$d materials i$ this *ar surely $eeds pla$$ed reco$structio$ o$ a scale hitherto u$6$o*$ i$
our history% /$ the Soviet ($io$, *here the e$tire social a$d eco$omic li!e o! the people is orga$ised
o$ the solid basis o! socialisatio$ o! the mea$s o! productio$, distributio$ a$d echa$ge, a$d o$ the
complete elimi$atio$ o! imperialism, the issue is simple a$d straight% All peoples ca$ co$!ide$tly
rely o$ its support o! a$y pla$$ed e$deavours !or post5*ar reco$structio$ o$ the basis o! e8ual
opportu$ity !or all cou$tries, big or small% &he e$tire resources a$d surplus co$tributio$ o! its labour
po*er ca$ be also utilised to speed up the process to its utmost i$ the best i$terests o! the e$tire
commu$ity a$d other peoples% 0ut i$ the democratic cou$tries *here mo$opoly capitalism, cartels
a$d trusts domi$ate very greatly the eco$omic a$d social li!e o! the commu$ity, a$d greed !or
private pro!it a$d $ot social good remai$s the o$ly i$ce$tive to a$y productive a$d co$structive
drive, the issue becomes complicated i$deed% 'e must realise that soldiers a$d *or6ers *ho are
ma6i$g the greatest co$tributio$s a$d treme$dous sacri!ices ca$ $ever *illi$gly agree to retur$ to
the old order o! thi$gs a$d carry o$ a ha$d5to5mouth eiste$ce o$ dole a$d relie! o$ the bri$6 o!
perpetual i$security% /t *ould be too much to epect that% Fu$dame$tal cha$ges i$ the structure a$d
policy o! eco$omy *ould be re8uired to mai$tai$ eve$ productive employme$t, $ot to spea6 o!
solvi$g the problem o! distributio$ a$d utilisatio$ o! labour po*er to its utmost% 'or6ers surely $eed
immediate !ul!ilme$t o! their eco$omic $eeds% 0ut soo$er or later they *ould realise i$ every
cou$try that it is impossible to satis!y eve$ their mi$imum $eeds ade8uately *ithout radically
cha$gi$g the prese$t order o! thi$gs a$d havi$g their decisive say i$ the co$trol o! socio5political li!e
a$d i$ the shapi$g o! their prese$t a$d !uture% 0ut so lo$g as it is $ot possible to do so, *e *ill have
$ecessarily to agree to press !or the !ullest possible short5time applicatio$ o! the pri$ciples agreed
upo$ by the ($ited Natio$s, a$d to *or6 out a$y pla$ this )o$!ere$ce may adopt as a$ immediate
measure%
/! that be the positio$ i$ the democratic a$d highly i$dustrial cou$tries, o$e ca$ o$ly imagi$e *hat
ca$ be the lot o! the vast submerged, toili$g multitude o! the colo$ies a$d depe$de$cies *ho are
de$ied eve$ the most eleme$tary rights o! huma$ eiste$ce% &he problems there are much more
di!!icult a$d *ider tha$ else*here% /$dia$ *or6ers surely $eed rapid i$dustrialisatio$ a$d raisi$g o!
their sta$dard o! livi$g !rom their o*$ poi$t o! vie*% 0ut there ca$ $ot be eve$ more moderate
capitalist5democratic pla$$i$g, $ot to spea6 o! Socialist pla$$i$g, *ithout immediate elimi$atio$ o!
imperialism i$ a$y shape or !orm, a$d u$8uali!ied applicatio$ o! the right o! sel!5determi$atio$ to all
oppressed a$d eploited peoples% O$ behal! o! the /$dia$ *or6i$g5class, *e must say so plai$ly a$d
dema$d a democratic $atio$al Gover$me$t o! the people as the most i$dispe$sable co$ditio$
precede$t to a$y e!!ective pla$$i$g !or social security a$d reco$structio$%
Iou, comrades, ca$ *ell u$dersta$d *hat 6i$d o! social security /$dia$ *or6ers ca$ possibly have i$
the eisti$g co$ditio$s o! slavery i$ a cou$try *here per capita a$$ual $atio$al i$come, i$cludi$g
millio$aires a$d paupers, ca$ hardly go above F. ,Ks% /$ the case o! 8A%? millio$s o! *or6ers
e$gaged i$ agriculture, it comes do*$ to F? ,8s% o$ly% &hirty millio$s o! la$dless agriculture
*or6ers have to live o$ still less i$come, o$ the verge o! starvatio$% &etile *or6ers get o$ly ,As% per
*ee6, @ute *or6ers Ks% >d%, a$d mi$ers As% -d% per *ee6% Iou ca$ there!ore *ell realise the miserable
lot o! i$dustrial *or6ers *ho have $o i$sura$ce agai$st u$employme$t, sic6$ess a$d old age, $o
allo*a$ce !or !amily a$d childre$, $ot eve$ eleme$tary security o! service a$d livi$g *age
mi$imum, $o right o! collective bargai$i$g a$d recog$itio$ o! ($io$s% A$ over*helmi$g ma@ority o!
*or6ers su!!er !rom mal$utritio$% No *o$der !ami$e too6 such a heavy toll a$d demo$strated, as i!
u$der a !lash light, the rotte$$ess o! the imperialist system upheld by 'hitehall, a$d the tragic mal5
admi$istratio$ o! a$ alie$ Gover$me$t, $ot respo$sible to the people o! /$dia% &he lac6 o! !oresight
a$d pla$$i$g to meet the $eeds o! the people ca$ still be read i$ every li$e o! its past a$d prese$t
!ood policy a$d its attitude to*ards the outsta$di$g labour problems, eve$ i$ the sith year o! the
*ar%
4ue to the phe$ome$al rise i$ the cost o! livi$g by ,5= perce$t to ?== perce$t, the *or6ers have
su!!ered heavily i$ terms o! real *ages i$ their already lo* sta$dard o! livi$g% 4estitutes are still
dyi$g i$ )alcutta a$d i$ the cou$tryside% &he cost o! livi$g is still too high a$d beyo$d the mea$s o!
millio$s o! agricultural *or6ers a$d lo*5paid i$dustrial *or6ers a$d their li6e% #al$utritio$ a$d
preve$table diseases are still ta6i$g a heavy toll% &here!ore there ca$$ot co$ceivably be a$y social
security *orth the $ame i$ the $ear !uture *ithout a drastic cha$ge i$ the outloo6 o! the 0ritish
Gover$me$t%
&his )o$!ere$ce *ill be !aili$g i$ its o$e importa$t tas6 i! it !ails to ta6e special $ote o! the
co$ditio$s i$ colo$ies a$d depe$de$cies a$d to ta6e appropriate measures to secure !or these
$umerous eploited peoples o! Asia a$d A!rica a$d other parts the most eleme$tary rights o!
civilised democratic eiste$ce, social @ustice a$d !ree gover$me$t o! their o*$% A$y attempt to by5
pass this all5importa$t issue ca$$ot but eve$tually de!eat the very purpose o! a$ abidi$g peace a$d
social security !or *hich the )o$!ere$ce has bee$ co$ve$ed at this most critical period o! *orld
history% Let us realise that :Poverty a$y*here co$stitutes a da$ger to prosperity every*here,; i$ the
*ords o! the Philadelphia declaratio$% A !ree *orld ca$$ot live side by side *ith a slave *orld
*ithout comi$g i$to clash, soo$er or later% Let us be there!ore !ully alive to the great respo$sibilities
that rest o$ the shoulders o! respo$sible represe$tatives o! the *orld *or6i$g5class moveme$t at this
@u$cture, a$d address ourselves seriously to the tas6 o! !aci$g the clear issues stari$g at our !ace, a$d
solve them courageously by all mea$s at our disposal% Let us remember that i! *e !ail to do that, *e
*ill u$doubtedly be held respo$sible be!ore history a$d the $et ge$eratio$ !or our !ailure to arrest
timely the process o! a$other *ar, !or the third time i$ our li!e% / trust the *orld *or6i$g5class *ill
rise e8ual to the occasio$ the $ecessity so urge$tly dema$ds a$d, u$der the leadership o! the valia$t
Soviet ($io$ a$d other progressive !orces *ithi$ the ($ited Natio$s, de!eat a$y attempt to i$!lict o$
the lo$g5su!!eri$g peoples a pro5imperialist peace% 'e dema$d immediate Natio$al Gover$me$t a$d
release o! political priso$ers, the recog$itio$ o! &rade ($io$s a$d right o! collective bargai$i$g, a
mi$imum livi$g *age, a$ eight5hour day a$d social security, a$d !reedom o! the press, speech a$d
associatio$% 'or6ers o! the *orld u$iteH 4o*$ *ith Fascism a$d imperialismH O$*ard to
democracy, social @ustice a$d a$ abidi$g peace%
)r( *( S( +nnan BGold )oast "ail*ay )ivil Serva$ts a$d &ech$ical 'or6ers3 ($io$C: 'e come $o*
to a pressi$g domestic problem, the immediate dema$ds o! the *orld3s orga$ised Labour a$d the
pla$s !or post5*ar reco$structio$% &his )o$!ere$ce has gathered at a time *he$ victory over NaEi
tyra$$y is loo6i$g !orth i$to the horiEo$, a$d it is o$ly $atural that the various orga$ised bodies o!
the *orld should proclaim their $eeds a$d pla$s% &he church, political parties, social orga$isatio$s,
etc%, are all pla$$i$g% Orga$ised Labour must raise its voice i$ this matter% &his )o$!ere$ce must
give social security to the *or6i$g5class o! the *orld by progressive pla$s !or raisi$g the sta$dard o!
livi$g, epa$di$g medical !acilities to i$dustry, i$creasi$g the social services so that me$ a$d *ome$
ca$ live a$d educatio$ally develop their perso$alities !or the commo$ good% O$e immediate dema$d
*ill be the resurrectio$ o! those &rade ($io$s *hich have !alle$ u$der the yo6e o! the Ais% /t
should be our moral a$d social duty to give every help to the liberated cou$tries to rebuild their
Labour #oveme$t o$ce more, bac6ed by their o*$ traditio$s a$d customs, ru$ o$ democratic
pri$ciples a$d thus ma6i$g their i$dividual $atio$al co$tributio$s to the heritage o! the &rade ($io$
/$ter$atio$al%
&he seco$d a$d most obvious dema$d is the immediate establishme$t o! prelimi$ary machi$ery to
set up 'orld &rade ($io$ i$ter$atio$al solidarity amo$g the *or6ers o! the *orld% So !ar / have
spo6e$ i$ ge$eral terms, but $o* / must be more speci!ic% / must prese$t the poi$t o! vie* o! the
colo$ies% Amo$g the pressi$g $eeds o! the orga$isatio$ *hich / represe$t / *ish to ma6e the
!ollo*i$g represe$tatio$s:
First, o$ the Gold )oast *e immediately re8uire the setti$g up o! a 'ages 0oard *ith po*ers to
eami$e a$d !i ade8uate mi$imum *age sta$dards to cope *ith the e$ormous rise i$ the sta$dard
o! livi$g% 9very *or6er should ear$ e$ough to provide himsel! *ith at least the bare $ecessities o!
li!e% O$ the Gold )oast, a$d / believe i$ other parts o! 0ritish 'est A!rica, the average labourer Ba$d
labourers !orm a great part o! the *or6i$g5class orga$isatio$sC ear$s -d% to ,s% a day a$d thus is
de$ied eve$ the bare $ecessities o! li!e% &he argume$t that the sta$dard o! livi$g o! *or6ers o$ the
)oast is lo*, a$d, there!ore, that they should be paid such i$huma$ *ages is mischievous a$d
per$icious% +o* ca$ a perso$ live *ith *i!e a$d childre$ o$ a shilli$g a day eve$ i$ the most i$terior
part o! A!rica G /t is impossible a$d it is a$ argume$t ma$u!actured by political propaga$dists% &he
pri$ciple o! e8ual pay !or e8ual *or6 must be e$!orced% &he eisti$g e$ormous disparity bet*ee$ the
salaries o! the 9uropea$ a$d A!rica$, the A!rica$ *ho i$ ma$y respects is better 8uali!ied tha$ the
9uropea$ as !ar as academic 8uali!icatio$s are co$cer$ed, should be disco$ti$ued at o$ce i! per!ect
harmo$y a$d good*ill is to eist bet*ee$ the t*o%
Seco$dly, *e re8uire at o$ce a Labour represe$tative o$ the Legislative )ou$cil o! the Gover$me$t<
that is vitally importa$t% &he $ative members o$ the Legislative )ou$cil are too busy *ith other
thi$gs to be bothered *ith labour problems% &he Labour seat o$ the )ou$cil must be !illed by a
ca$didate elected by the *or6ers themselves% A progressive pla$ !or social i$sura$ce must be *or6ed
out by the Gover$me$t !or the *or6ers%
&hirdly, *e desire to stabilise our i$ter$al eco$omy% For this *e co$sider it $ecessary that a heavier
!orm o! taatio$ should be imposed o$ the i$comes o! the mi$es, the commercial houses a$d all
others e$gaged i$ private e$terprise o$ the )oast% &his i$creased taatio$ must be used to epa$d the
social services o! the cou$try% &here must be ge$ui$e e$courageme$t o! such $ative e$terprise as
productio$ o! cocoa% &his ca$ be most e!!ectively do$e by the setti$g5up o! a mar6eti$g age$cy
*hich *ill be u$der the co$trol o! the A!rica$ producers%
'e must also attempt to do a*ay *ith all vested i$terests i$ the )olo$ies< eploitatio$ has reached
its clima a$d it is time that a serious *ar *as *aged agai$st it%
'he$ *e come to co$sider our post5*ar reco$structio$ *e have a lot o! thi$gs i$ commo$ *ith the
previous spea6ers% Our !irst aim is a$ e!!icie$t orga$isatio$ o! Labour to *or6 out u$ity amo$g
*or6i$g5class people a$d to !orm a regio$al associatio$ o! the !our cou$tries o! 'est A!rica% 'e
must !orm a bloc i$ 'est A!rica *hereby *e ca$ raise o$e voice agai$st *hatever odds% &his *ill
$ecessitate the trai$i$g o! the $ecessary perso$$el i$ the Labour #oveme$t a$d *e shall re8uire the
assista$ce o! the bigger $atio$al bodies% &ech$ical schools must be epa$ded to trai$, i$dividuals to
ta6e up higher positio$s i$ the higher grades o! i$dustry% 9ducatio$al !acilities should be epa$ded to
provide !ree a$d compulsory educatio$ !or all classes o! people irrespective o! creed, colour, or
class% #edical !acilities should be multiplied to combat disease a$d relieve su!!eri$g% A progressive
scheme !or the cleara$ce o! slums, s8ualor, a$d debt must be set up, as *ell as a$ ete$sive housi$g
scheme to accommodate the various classes o! *or6ers%
&hese are the broad details o! our pla$s, but the impleme$tatio$ o! them *ill re8uire the co5
operatio$ a$d good*ill o! all orga$ised Labour every*here i$ the *orld% /t is absolutely $ecessary
!or us to remember that i$ the great !amily o! the 'orld &rade ($io$ Orga$isatio$ *e must all !ully
share i$ the $eeds a$d bou$ty o! o$e a$other% &here ca$ be $o greater respo$sibility !or this
)o$!ere$ce%
7( Declaration on the +ttitude to the &eace Settle'ent(
)r( +( %a1ier B"eporter, Peace Settleme$t )ommitteeC B&ra$slatio$C: &he )ommittee o$ the
8uestio$ o! the &rade ($io$ Attitude to the Peace Settleme$t *as set up by this )o$!ere$ce% At its
ope$i$g meeti$g the )ommittee u$a$imously elected #r% )arey as )hairma$ a$d mysel! as
"eporter% &he )ommittee decided, i$ accorda$ce *ith the Sta$di$g Orders o! the )o$!ere$ce, to
admit a$ additio$al co5opted member, $amely, #r% +ill as represe$ti$g 0ritish 'est A!rica, the 'est
/$dies a$d 0ritish Guia$a% &he )ommittee held !ive meeti$gs% &he tet *hich is $o* submitted to
you *as adopted u$a$imously by the )ommittee *ith the eceptio$ o! o$e se$te$ce i$ paragraph ?>%
&he )ommittee *ishes me to say that its *or6 *as greatly !acilitated by the !act that three great
Statesme$ *ere holdi$g a meeti$g i$ the )rimea at the same time a$d that their 4eclaratio$ !rom the
Ialta )o$!ere$ce dealt *ith ma$y o! the poi$ts *ith *hich the )ommittee *ere closely co$cer$ed%
'e have e$deavoured i$ our report to deal *ith those poi$ts i$ *hich *e co$sider that &rade ($io$
orga$isatio$s are particularly i$terested%
&he )ommittee discussed o$e 8uestio$ i$ particular, $amely, *hether 7apa$ should be dealt *ith i$
the same report as Germa$y, or *hether there should be a separate resolutio$ placed be!ore the
)o$!ere$ce o$ the sub@ect o! 7apa$% &he solutio$ adopted *as that a si$gle tet should be placed
be!ore the )o$!ere$ce% Iou *ill see, ho*ever, !rom the care!ul *ordi$g o! paragraph AA 2 the last
paragraph i$ the report 2 that the paragraph commits o$ly the represe$tatives o! those members o!
the ($ited Natio$s *hich are at *ar *ith 7apa$%
&he tet o! the declaratio$ reads:
,% &he millio$s o! *or6i$g people represe$ted at this )o$!ere$ce by accredited delegatio$s
!rom .= $atio$al &rade ($io$ orga$isatio$s i$ the ($ited Natio$s, a$d ,5 i$ter$atio$al &rade
($io$ bodies, have mai$tai$ed a stead!ast purpose through the lo$g struggle $o* dra*i$g to
its close%
?% /$ !urthera$ce o! that u$!alteri$g purpose, this 'orld )o$!ere$ce has co$sidered the tas6s
still *aiti$g to be do$e by the armed !orces a$d the *or6i$g people o! the ($ited Natio$s to
accomplish the complete destructio$ o! Germa$ militarism a$d Fascist tyra$$y, a$d also the
measures to be ta6e$ !or the establishme$t o! a @ust a$d lasti$g peace%
A% &his 'orld )o$!ere$ce, havi$g give$ co$sideratio$ to the social a$d eco$omic problems o!
the peace, deems it esse$tial that respo$sible a$d 8uali!ied represe$tatives o! the &rade ($io$
#oveme$t shall be associated *ith the peace settleme$t i$ all its phases%
.% 0y a% co$ti$uatio$ o! the close collaboratio$ a$d decisive actio$ o! Gover$me$ts a$d peoples
*hich have brought the ($ited Natio$s i$ sight o! victory, this 'orld )o$!ere$ce believes
that the aims *hich the *or6i$g people have held steadily i$ vie* *ill be achieved%
5% &he people o! the ($ited Natio$s *ill $ot rela their e!!orts i$ this !i$al stage o! the !ight
agai$st aggressio$% &hey *ill shri$6 !rom $o sacri!ice that is $ecessary to bri$g about the
u$co$ditio$al surre$der a$d capitulatio$ o! the commo$ e$emy, realisi$g that a$y !orm o!
appeaseme$t or compromise *ill be i$@urious to the cause o! the !reedom5lovi$g $atio$s by
lulli$g them i$to a se$se o! !alse security a$d lesse$i$g their vigila$ce agai$st the da$ger that
aggressio$ *ill be re$e*ed%
>% /$ the co$!ide$t hope that victory *ill bri$g perma$e$t peace, this 'orld )o$!ere$ce pays
homage to all *ho have !ought a$d su!!ered i$ the !ight !or !reedom% &he &rade ($io$
#oveme$t *ill hold i$ everlasti$g ho$our those *ho have !alle$ i$ battle, by la$d a$d sea
a$d i$ the air, a$d those *ho have su!!ered martyrdom at the ha$ds o! a cruel e$emy% &he
)o$!ere$ce pays its heart!elt tribute also to all *ho have served i$ the armed !orces o! the
($ited Natio$s, i$ the #erca$tile #ari$e, i$ the "esista$ce #oveme$ts i$ occupied
cou$tries, i$ the )ivil 4e!e$ce orga$isatio$, i$ productive i$dustry, a$d i$ the tra$sport a$d
distributive services% 0y their valour a$d e$dura$ce, o$ the battle!ields a$d i$ every !orm o!
*ar service, a$d by their heroic sacri!ices, me$ a$d *ome$ ali6e have *o$ the right to
dema$d that the victory o! the ($ited Natio$s shall lead to the creatio$ o! a *orld
orga$isatio$ capable o! e$suri$g a stable a$d e$duri$g peace% &he *ar has bee$ !ought by the
*or6i$g people, a$d peace ca$$ot be orga$ised *ithout their co5operatio$ a$d e!!ective
participatio$ i$ the cou$sels o! die peace5ma6i$g Gover$me$ts%
K% &his 'orld )o$!ere$ce there!ore *elcomes the historic 4eclaratio$ made by the Prime
#i$ister o! Great 0ritai$, the Preside$t o! the ($ited States, a$d the )hairma$ o! the )ou$cil
o! People3s )ommissars o! the ($io$ o! Soviet Socialist "epublics, !ollo*i$g their
)o$!ere$ce i$ the )rimea% /$ that 4eclaratio$ this 'orld )o$!ere$ce !i$ds the assura$ce that
the sacri!ices a$d su!!eri$gs o! the *or6i$g people *ill $ot have bee$ made i$ vai$%
8% /$ !ull agreeme$t *ith the i$!leible determi$atio$ epressed by the heads o! the three Allied
Po*ers at the )rimea )o$!ere$ce to destroy Germa$ militarism a$d NaEism, *e do $ot doubt
that the Occupyi$g Authorities *ill ta6e all $ecessary measures to disarm Germa$y a$d
disba$d all her armed !orces< brea6 up !or all time the Germa$ Ge$eral Sta!!< remove or
destroy all Germa$ military e8uipme$t< a$d elimi$ate or bri$g u$der Allied co$trol all
Germa$ i$dustry that ca$ be used !or *ar purposes% 0ut vital &rade ($io$ i$terests are
i$volved i$ the process o! disarmi$g a$d demilitarisi$g Germa$y%
-% 'e direct atte$tio$ speci!ically to the !act that measures must be ta6e$ 2
BiC to bri$g to @ustice all *ar crimi$als<
BiiC to li8uidate the *hole NaEi system a$d to dissolve all NaEi
orga$isatio$s *ith the complete co$!iscatio$ o! their !u$ds a$d
property<
BiiiC to place u$der the co$trol o! the ($ited Natio$s $ot o$ly Germa$
heavy i$dustry but the Germa$ tra$sport system, the ba$6i$g system,
a$d la$d a$d property o*$ed by Germa$ trusts a$d cartels, a$d by
!i$a$cial mag$ates a$d 7u$6ers<
BivC !or the utilisatio$ *ithi$ the limits imposed by e!!ective
demilitarisatio$ o! Germa$ i$dustrial a$d all other resources !or the
rehabilitatio$ o! all cou$tries the Germa$s have devastated a$d
plu$dered< a$d
BvC !or the setti$g up o! machi$ery to secure the !ull compe$satio$ !rom
Germa$y !or the damage it has caused to the Allied cou$tries, *ith
priority to those that have su!!ered most%
/$ the Allied occupatio$ a$d co$trol o! Germa$y, the cou$tries that have bee$ directly i$@ured by
Germa$ i$vasio$ a$d occupatio$, a$d have e!!ectively opposed the occupatio$ should have
represe$tatio$%
,=% O$ all these matters *e co$sider it esse$tial that the voice o! the &rade ($io$s shall be heard
a$d heeded by the Occupyi$g Authorities%
,,% Further, *e co$sider that the &rade ($io$ #oveme$t should be co$sulted about the
arra$geme$ts to be made to secure, by the use o! Germa$ materials a$d Germa$ ma$po*er,
the restoratio$ by Germa$y o! all that has bee$ destroyed i$ cou$tries agai$st *hich she has
*aged *ar% /$ the vie* o! this 'orld )o$!ere$ce the employme$t o! Germa$ labour i! used
i$ restoratio$ *or6 must be placed u$der i$ter$atio$al supervisio$, *ith &rade ($io$
participatio$ i$ the determi$atio$ o! labour sta$dards i$ a *ay that *ill $ot reduce the
sta$dards o! other *or6ers% Such labour must $ot be allo*ed to dege$erate i$to slave labour%
,?% )o$$ected *ith such $ecessary orga$isatio$ o! the Germa$ *or6ers is the tas6 o! li8uidati$g
completely a$d irrevocably the Germa$ :Labour Fro$t; a$d establishi$g u$der i$ter$atio$al
&rade ($io$ supervisio$ a democratic &rade ($io$ #oveme$t i$ Germa$y as speedily as
possible duri$g the period o! occupatio$%
,A% &his 'orld )o$!ere$ce i$sists that &rade ($io$ !u$ds a$d property ta6e$ !rom the *or6ers
by the NaEis must be recovered a$d placed at the disposal o! the i$ter$atio$al &rade ($io$
#oveme$t as custodia$s, to be used i$ rebuildi$g !ree a$d democratic &rade ($io$
orga$isatio$s%
,.% )o$cer$ed *ith the stem pu$ishme$t o! all *ar crimi$als, high a$d lo*, this 'orld
)o$!ere$ce believes that &rade ($io$ help a$d cou$sel *ill be $ecessary to e$sure, *ithout
the spirit o! ve$gea$ce, that $o$e o! the guilty shall escape due pu$ishme$t% No right o!
asylum shall be i$vo6ed !or the protectio$ o! *ar crimi$als%
,5% #oreover, this 'orld )o$!ere$ce is co$vi$ced that the &rade ($io$ #oveme$t ca$ re$der
i$dispe$sable assista$ce i$ the reco$structio$ o! the *hole system o! educatio$ i$ Germa$y,
*hereby the you$g ge$eratio$ o! Germa$s *ill be purged o! the i$!ectio$ o! militarism a$d
NaEism, a$d a radically di!!ere$t educatio$al programme, *ith revised tet boo6s, ca$ be
brought i$to operatio$, a$d all teachers a$d lecturers *ho have supported NaEism shall be
epelled !rom Germa$ schools a$d u$iversities%
,>% &he &rade ($io$ #oveme$t li6e*ise see6s the opportu$ity to assist i$ the orga$isatio$ a$d
co$duct o! a$ti5Fascist propaga$da, i$ the clea$si$g o! Fascism !rom Germa$ literature, a$d
the arts, a$d i$ the use o! Germa$ theatres, ci$emas, radio a$d press, !or the i$culcatio$ o!
democratic ideals a$d o! racial a$d religious e8uality *hich have bee$ derided a$d set at
$aught i$ the Fascist ideology%
,K% From the )rimea )o$!ere$ce have come bi$di$g guara$tees that the Allied Gover$me$ts *ill
!orth*ith e$ter upo$ the tas6 o! establishi$g a ge$eral i$ter$atio$al orga$isatio$ to mai$tai$
peace a$d security%
,8% &his 'orld )o$!ere$ce re@oices i$ the declared purpose o! the Allied Gover$me$ts to give
e!!ect to the pri$ciples o! the Atla$tic )harter, by recog$isi$g a$d de!e$di$g the right o! all
peoples to choose the !orm o! Gover$me$t u$der *hich they *ill live, lie resolve o! the
Allied Gover$me$ts to secure the restoratio$ o! sovereig$ rights a$d sel!5gover$me$t to the
peoples *ho have see$ their democratic i$stitutio$s ruthlessly uprooted, a$d @oi$tly to assist
the people i$ every liberated cou$try to create the co$ditio$s i$ *hich stable a$d
represe$tative Gover$me$ts, resti$g upo$ the !ree co$se$t o! the people, ca$ come i$to
eiste$ce, *ill have the support o! the &rade ($io$ #oveme$t%
,-% &his 'orld )o$!ere$ce u$a$imously acclaims the decisio$ o! the three Allied Gover$me$ts
to summo$ a )o$!ere$ce o! ($ited Natio$s at Sa$ Fra$cisco to prepare the )harter o! a$
i$ter$atio$al orga$isatio$ i$ accorda$ce *ith the ge$eral pri$ciples !ormulated at 4umbarto$
Oa6s% 'e !ully e$dorse their decisio$ to bri$g the Gover$me$t o! )hi$a a$d the Provisio$al
Gover$me$t o! Fra$ce i$to associatio$ *ith them i$ this great e$terprise%
?=% &he &rade ($io$ #oveme$t *ill loo6 to the Sa$ Fra$cisco )o$!ere$ce to set the seal o! !i$al
agreeme$t upo$ the policy *hich the leaders o! the three Great Po*ers have co$siste$tly
pursued si$ce they !ramed the Atla$tic )harter, a$d rea!!irmed a$d ampli!ied at the #osco*
a$d &ehera$ )o$!ere$ces, i$ *hich their u$ity o! purpose *as stre$gthe$ed% /$ those historic
meeti$gs, the desire o! the peoples o! all cou$tries, great or small, !or collaboratio$ a$d
active participatio$ o$ the part o! their Gover$me$ts i$ the sacred tas6 o! riddi$g the *orld
o! tyra$$y, slavery, oppressio$, a$d racial a$d religious i$tolera$ce, !ou$d epressio$< a$d
this 'orld )o$!ere$ce is pro!ou$dly co$vi$ced that *ith the comi$g o! Peace the !reedom5
lovi$g peoples over all the earth *ill give their support a$d cou$te$a$ce o$ly to those
Gover$me$ts that *ill co5operate i$ !rami$g a$d mai$tai$i$g the )harter%
?,% &his 'orld )o$!ere$ce, i$deed, co$siders it to be the duty o! the Gover$me$ts o! the ($ited
Natio$s to de$y recog$itio$ to States *hose political a$d eco$omic systems are opposed to
the pri$ciples embodied i$ the 4eclaratio$s made at the Atla$tic meeti$g a$d the
)o$!ere$ces o! #osco* a$d &ehera$% &he struggle !or the uprooti$g o! militarism a$d%
Fascism, *hich has i$volved the *or6i$g people i$ u$cou$table sacri!ices, is a$ i$tegral part
o! their struggle !or a stable a$d lasti$g peace, a$d o! their !ight to remove the last vestiges o!
militarism a$d Fascism, a$d to etermi$ate all covert a$d overt :!i!th colum$; i$!lue$ces i$
all cou$tries%
??% &his 'orld )o$!ere$ce urges most stro$gly the speedy establishme$t o! the 4umbarto$ Oa6s
pla$ !or the co$stitutio$ o! a ge$eral Assembly o! all peace5lovi$g $atio$s, *ith e8ual rights%
O$ly *he$ such a$ Assembly is i$ bei$g ca$ such 8uestio$s as ge$eral disarmame$t,
regulatio$ o! armame$ts,3 a$d other esse$tials o! security be ade8uately dealt *ith%
?A% Amo$g these esse$tials this 'orld )o$!ere$ce attaches supreme importa$ce to removal o!
the eco$omic causes o! *ar% &he &rade ($io$ #oveme$t ca$$ot !orget that o$e o! the basic
causes o! *ar is the scramble !or mar6ets by mo$opolisi$g i$terests%
?.% &his 'orld )o$!ere$ce, there!ore, co$siders it to be o$e o! the earliest obligatio$s o! the
Assembly prese$tly to be established to i$vestigate a$d put a term to the activities o!
i$ter$atio$al cartels a$d mo$opolies *hich militate agai$st the public i$terest u$der *hatever
guise they may !u$ctio$%
?5% /$ the vie* o! this 'orld )o$!ere$ce, it is li6e*ise $ecessary to bri$g to a$ e$d the system o!
colo$ies, depe$de$cies a$d sub@ect cou$tries as spheres o! eco$omic eploitatio$, a$d to
!acilitate immediately the developme$t o! !ree &rade ($io$s i$ those cou$tries% /$ the
comi$g Peace, the !ou$datio$s must be laid *ith all possible speed, a$d i$ accorda$ce *ith
Article A o! the Atla$tic )harter, o! a *orld order i$ *hich $o$5sel!5gover$i$g commu$ities
a$d $atio$s ca$ attai$ the status o! !ree $atio$s that *ill e$able them to gover$ themselves
a$d to develop their o*$ i$stitutio$s o! !ree citiEe$ship%
?>% &his 'orld )o$!ere$ce is o! opi$io$ too that a!ter the *ar, thoroughgoi$g remedies must be
!ou$d, through i$ter$atio$al actio$, !or the *ro$gs i$!licted o$ the 7e*ish people% &heir
protectio$ agai$st oppressio$, discrimi$atio$ a$d spoliatio$ i$ a$y cou$try must be the
respo$sibility o! the $e* /$ter$atio$al Authority% &he 7e*ish people must be e$abled to
co$ti$ue the rebuildi$g o! Palesti$e as their Natio$al +ome, so success!ully begu$ by
immigratio$, agricultural resettleme$t a$d i$dustrial developme$t%
?K% &his 'orld )o$!ere$ce has ta6e$ $ote o! the !act that the pla$ o! *orld orga$isatio$ outli$ed
at 4umbarto$ Oa6s i$cludes the setti$g up o! a Security )ou$cil vested *ith po*er to
mai$tai$ peace< that it is proposed to appoi$t perma$e$t represe$tatives o! mi$isterial status
a$d eperie$ce at the head8uarters o! the /$ter$atio$al Orga$isatio$< a$d that a #ilitary Sta!!
)ommittee is also to be established composed o! the )hie!s o! Sta!! o! the States *ith
perma$e$t members, to advise a$d assist the Security )ou$cil o$ all 8uestio$s relati$g to its
military re8uireme$ts a$d !or the strategic directio$ o! armed !orces placed at its disposal%
&his 'orld )o$!ere$ce *elcomes this as evide$ce o! the determi$atio$ o! the three Allied
Gover$me$ts to e$!orce peace a$d mai$tai$ security%
?8% &his 'orld )o$!ere$ce is especially hope!ul that the proposal i$ the 4umbarto$ Oa6s pla$ to
set up a$ 9co$omic add Social )ou$cil to ma6e recomme$datio$s o$ i$ter$atio$al eco$omic,
social a$d other huma$itaria$ problems, *ill be impleme$ted as speedily as possible% &he
&rade ($io$ #oveme$t has a particular obligatio$ to assist the developme$t o! this orga$ o!
the $e* i$ter$atio$al body, a$d dema$ds represe$tatio$ i$ all its stages%
?-% &his 'orld )o$!ere$ce urges the use o! this i$strume$t !or the i$itiatio$ o! great schemes o!
i$ter$atio$al eco$omic reco$structio$, embodyi$g the pri$ciples o! public co$trol a$d
admi$istratio$, a$d applyi$g them particularly to the great river systems, i$ *hich the
i$terests o! ma$y $atio$s are i$etricably i$volved%
A=% Fi$ally, this 'orld )o$!ere$ce, havi$g regard to the co$stitutio$, aims a$d !u$ctio$s o! the
$e* 'orld Orga$isatio$, co$siders it to be o! vital importa$ce that the &rade ($io$
#oveme$t shall be closely a$d co$ti$uously co$$ected *ith its activities, a$d especially *ith
the Security )ou$cil a$d the 9co$omic a$d Social )ou$cil% O$ behal! o! the &rade ($io$
#oveme$t, this 'orld )o$!ere$ce there!ore urges that provisio$ shall be made !or ade8uate
&rade ($io$ represe$tatio$ i$ the Assembly o! the /$ter$atio$al Orga$isatio$, a$d that
8uali!ied a$d respo$sible represe$tatives o! the &rade ($io$ #oveme$t shall be associated
*ith both the Security )ou$cil a$d the Social a$d 9co$omic )ou$cil%
A,% &his 'orld )o$!ere$ce, i$ !urthera$ce o! this ob@ective, resolves to see6 !rom the three
Allied Gover$me$ts a$ u$derta6i$g that accredited represe$tatives o! the &rade ($io$
#oveme$t *ill be received i$to their cou$cils at the !orthcomi$g Sa$ Fra$cisco )o$!ere$ce,
i$ a$ advisory a$d co$sultative capacity%
A?% &his 'orld )o$!ere$ce recalls the 4eclaratio$ made by the 4eputy Prime #i$ister o! Great
0ritai$, i$ his address to the delegatio$s here assembled, that the great machi$ery o!
co$sultatio$ built up by the &rade ($io$s through ma$y years has bee$ a !actor o! vital
importa$ce i$ the *i$$i$g o! the *ar% &his 'orld )o$!ere$ce !eels that such recog$itio$ o!
the assista$ce a$d advice made available by the &rade ($io$ #oveme$t i$ every phase o!
*ar activity, co$!irmed by similar stateme$ts !rom other Allied statesme$, *arra$ts the
epectatio$ that this collaboratio$ *ill co$ti$ue as the ($ited Natio$s tur$ to the tas6 o!
carryi$g through the great cha$ge5over !rom *ar to peace, a$d set their ha$ds to the
rebuildi$g o! a *orld i$ rui$s, a$d the re$ovatio$ a$d re$e*al o! the li!e o! all ma$6i$d i$
!reedom a$d security%
AA% /t is the vie* o! the &rade ($io$ #oveme$ts o! those members o! the ($ited Natio$s *hich
are at *ar *ith 7apa$ that the pri$ciples outli$ed above, as applyi$g to the peace settleme$t
to be imposed o$ Germa$y, are e8ually applicable to 7apa$, a$d, i$ particular, that the
#i6ado shall $ot be allo*ed to escape his respo$sibility !or the acts o! 7apa$ese militarism,
that the 7apa$ese 9mpire shall be replaced by a democratic republic, a$d that the terms o! the
)airo54eclaratio$ shall be rigidly applied i$ regard to those territories *hich 7apa$ has
seiEed i$ the course o! her campaig$s o! aggressio$%
&he tet is $o* be!ore the )o$!ere$ce !or discussio$ a$d, *e trust, !or its approval
Discussion on Declaration
The &resident: &he )o$!ere$ce has $o* be!ore it the report o! the )ommittee% Are there a$y
8uestio$s o$ the reportG
)r( *ohn +sfour BArab 'or6ers3 Society, Palesti$eC: As the )o$!ere$ce is a*are, the paragraph i$
the report *hich is the reaso$ !or my i$terve$tio$ is $umber ?>% 0e!ore / come to that paragraph /
*a$t you to read *ith me certai$ previous paragraphs a$d to see ho* much or ho* little a
compromise is possible bet*ee$ these paragraphs *hich occur i$ the same report% 9veryo$e 6$o*s
that Palesti$e is a$ Arab cou$try, a$d as such, paragraphs ,8, ?= a$d ?5 re!er to it @ust as !ully a$d
!orcibly as to a$y other cou$try% Paragraph ,8 reads: :&his 'orld )o$!ere$ce re@oices i$ the declared
purpose o! the Allied Gover$me$ts to give e!!ect to the pri$ciples o! the Atla$tic )harter, by
recog$isi$g a$d de!e$di$g the right o! all peoples to choose the !orm o! Gover$me$t u$der *hich
they *ill live%; Agai$, to*ards the middle o! paragraph ?= *e have the !ollo*i$g: :/$ those historic
meeti$gs Bthe meeti$gs o! the leaders o! the three great po*ersC the desire o! the people o! all
cou$tries, great or small, !or collaboratio$ a$d active participatio$ o$ the part o! their Gover$me$ts
i$ the sacred tas6 o! riddi$g the *orld o! tyra$$y, slavery, oppressio$ a$d racial a$d religious
i$tolera$ce !ou$d epressio$< a$d this 'orld )o$!ere$ce is pro!ou$dly co$vi$ced that *ith the
comi$g o! Peace, the !reedom5lovi$g peoples over all the earth *ill give their support a$d
cou$te$a$ce o$ly to those Gover$me$ts that *ill co5operate i$ !rami$g a$d mai$tai$i$g the
)harter%;
Agai$ i$ paragraph ?5 the !ollo*i$g *ill be !ou$d: :/$ the comi$g Peace, the !ou$datio$s must be
laid *ith all possible speed, a$d i$ accorda$ce *ith Article A o! the Atla$tic )harter, o! a *orld order
i$ *hich $o$5sel!5gover$i$g commu$ities a$d $atio$s ca$ attai$ the status o! !ree $atio$s that *ill
e$able them to gover$ themselves a$d to develop their o*$ i$stitutio$s o! !ree citiEe$ship%; / have
read these passages to the )o$!ere$ce i$ order that they may see to *hat ete$t *e ca$ ma6e a$y
compromise at all bet*ee$ them a$d more particularly the last part o! paragraph ?> *hich reads:
:&he 7e*ish people must be e$abled to co$ti$ue the rebuildi$g o! Palesti$e as their Natio$al +ome,
so success!ully begu$ by immigratio$, agricultural resettleme$t a$d i$dustrial developme$t%;
/t *as $ot our i$te$tio$ to i$volve i$ co$troversy this very importa$t a$d historic )o$!ere$ce,
deali$g *ith the ma@or topic be!ore it, co$cer$i$g the su!!eri$g o! the *hole *orld, but / must as6
you to thi$6 !or a mome$t about Palesti$e a$d its problem% /t is i$ my vie* absolutely u$!air, to say
the least o! it, that a decisio$ o! such !ar5reachi$g e!!ect should be ta6e$ by a )o$!ere$ce co$ve$ed
!or the o$e si$gle purpose o! combati$g Fascism a$d all that it sta$ds !or% 'hat is the e!!ect o! thisG
/$ my address earlier to the )o$!ere$ce / said that the Arabs *ere $ot the last i$ givi$g epressio$
co$cer$i$g the persecutio$ o! the 7e*s i$ 9urope, but / also as6ed the )o$!ere$ce 8uite si$cerely to
resolve that *e should $ot at this stage try to 6i$dle !ires *hich *ere $ot eti$guished, but dorma$t%
'e are out as *or6ers to see that peace is established i$ 9urope a$d is mai$tai$ed< *e are out $ot
o$ly to spea6 about it, but to establish peace i$ all the *orld% / *ill $ot say that the !irst part o!
paragraph ?> is u$$ecessary or redu$da$t% /! *e are goi$g to get rid o! tyra$$y, despotism, a$d
Fascism *hich has created this racial discrimi$atio$ a$d persecutio$, a$d 9urope is to be !reed 2 a$d
!reed it *ill be 2 !rom all such persecutio$, the$ the )o$!ere$ce ca$ adopt o$ly the !irst part o!
paragraph ?>% &here is here somethi$g very importa$t, somethi$g that taes the co$scie$ce o! every
o$e o! us% 0ut it *ill be very da$gerous !or you to i$volve yourselves i$ decisio$s o$ matters o!
*hich you have heard $othi$g, o! *hich you have $ot bee$ give$ !ull a$d accurate details% /! *e are
goi$g to adopt the !irst part o! this paragraph, *hich reads: :&his 'orld )o$!ere$ce is o! opi$io$ too
that a!ter the *ar thorough5goi$g remedies must be !ou$d, through i$ter$atio$al actio$, !or the
*ro$gs i$!licted o$ the 7e*ish people; 2 all *ell a$d good% &here is $othi$g *ro$g *ith that% /t is
the epressio$ o! the )ommittee co$cer$i$g a certai$ state o! a!!airs that has obtai$ed% 0ut *hat is
their remedyG :&heir protectio$ agai$st oppressio$, discrimi$atio$ a$d spoliatio$ i$ a$y cou$try
must be the respo$sibility o! the $e* /$ter$atio$al Authority%; &hey as6 this )o$!ere$ce to declare
that there has bee$ oppressio$, discrimi$atio$ a$d spoliatio$ o! 7e*ish people i$ 9urope, that very
thorough mea$s must be adopted to remove such *ro$gs, a$d that this must be the respo$sibility o!
the $e* /$ter$atio$al Authority% /$ my submissio$ to you / *ould say this, that the 8uestio$ o! the
oppressio$ o! the 7e*s i$ 9urope a$d the 8uestio$ o! establishi$g a 1io$ist State i$ Palesti$e are t*o
di!!ere$t sub@ects, t*o poi$ts embodyi$g a di!!ere$t a$d co$troversial idea% &he 7e*s *ho have bee$
persecuted i$ 9urope must be helped, a$d the !irst aid that should be give$ them is the suppressio$
o! tyra$$y a$d despotism a$d the creatio$ o! a $e* *orld order, *ith a$ i$ter$atio$al authority to
decide o$ that%
/ as6 the )o$!ere$ce to remove !rom this report paragraph ?>, *hich is i$compatible *ith the ideas
o! the *hole o! the *or6i$g5class a$d also irreco$cilable *ith several previous paragraphs i$ the
report%
)r( +( Carrillo BLati$ America$ )o$!ederatio$ o! LabourC: #r% Preside$t a$d comrades: / *ish to
re!er to paragraph ?> o! the "eport% /$ the last se$te$ce it reads as !ollo*s: :&he 7e*ish people must
be e$abled to co$ti$ue the rebuildi$g o! Palesti$e as their Natio$al +ome so success!ully begu$ by
immigratio$, agricultural resettleme$t a$d i$dustrial developme$t%; First o! all, / believe that it is
@ust that the delegatio$s here should re@oice i$ the !act that a$ absolute ma@ority o! the members o!
the )ommittee passed this report i$ the a!!irmative se$se i$ *hich it is $o* prese$ted to us% &he
7e*ish problem is u$doubtedly $ot a local problem deali$g *ith a speci!ic territory or eve$ a
regio$al problem 2 / am spea6i$g o! 9urope *here this is very *ell 6$o*$ 2 it has become a *orld
problem o! the most dramatic $ature% As a result o! that, *e i$ Lati$ America, !ar a*ay !rom 9urope,
!ar a*ay !rom the su!!eri$g a$d the sacri!ices o! the 7e*ish people, at our last Lati$ America$
)o$gress o! Labour, passed a u$a$imous resolutio$ calli$g !or the establishme$t o! a 7e*ish +ome
i$ Palesti$e, *ithout i$ter!eri$g, o! course, *ith the $atio$al rights o! other groups% For that reaso$
*e come here to support this decisio$ *hich has bee$ ta6e$ also by most o! the importa$t Labour
orga$isatio$s o! the *hole *orld%
A$ti5semitism is a problem that does $ot co$cer$ o$ly the Arabs a$d the 7e*s, or a$y other si$gle
$atio$ality% A$ti5semitism is a problem that co$cer$s all the !reedom5lovi$g peoples o! the *orld
because it breeds Fascism, a$d by the breedi$g o! Fascism $ot o$ly the Arabs, $ot o$ly the 7e*s a$d
$ot o$ly certai$ speci!ic $atio$al groups are me$aced, but, to a great ete$t, the *hole *orld is
me$aced% )o$se8ue$tly *e have come here to suggest that this propositio$ should be accepted
because it o!!ers a very !i$e *ay i$ *hich *e ca$ help to solve the 7e*ish problem a$d thereby
avoid the possibility o! racial doctri$e a$d a$ti5semitism becomi$g a breeder o! Fascism i$ the
!uture% &he 7e*ish people are a people *ithout a state, a$d *e ca$$ot possibly see *hy the Atla$tic
)harter should ma6e a$ eceptio$ about them% &he Atla$tic )harter calls !or all peoples to orga$ise
themselves politically as they thi$6 !it, a$d i$ their o*$ i$terest% Are *e $ot goi$g to let the 7e*ish
people orga$ise themselves politically a$d have their o*$ StateG 'ill they be the o$ly people i$ the
*orld *ho *ill $ot be give$ the opportu$ity to orga$ise themselves politicallyG / say that $o Labour
#oveme$t a$y*here i$ the *orld *ould be *illi$g to a$s*er this 8uestio$ i$ a $egative se$se% Our
comrades represe$ti$g the Arab Labour #oveme$t ca$$ot tell us that this is a problem i$ *hich *e
ca$$ot very *ell ta6e a decisio$% &hey have several States already orga$ised% /! the Arab *orld had
$o political rights a$d had $o States *hich *ere orga$ised, *e !rom Lati$ America *ould come here
to !ight !or the political rights a$d !or the possibility o! Arab States eisti$g i$ the *orld% 0ut there
are /ra8, Syria, Lybia, Leba$o$, a$d ma$y other States i$ *hich the Arab *orld has had a cha$ce o!
orga$isi$g itsel! politically%
'e are i$ !avour o! this resolutio$, but i! there are a$y doubts about the good !aith o! the Labour
#oveme$t o! the *orld represe$ted here as to *hat *e *ish, / *ould suggest that *e add to this
report the !ollo*i$g *ords% 'here it says :Natio$al +ome so success!ully begu$ by immigratio$,
agricultural resettleme$t a$d i$dustrial developme$t; *e should add, :respecti$g the legitimate
i$terests o! other $atio$al groups a$d givi$g e8uality o! rights a$d opportu$ities to all its
i$habita$ts%; /$ that *ay *e *ould be u$doubtedly sa!eguardi$g the ge$ui$e a$d legitimate rights o!
all the peoples *ho live i$ Palesti$e% No* the $atio$s i$ 9urope that have su!!ered material losses i$
this *ay have bee$ as6i$g !or reparatio$s% / have $ot heard a si$gle voice i$ this )o$!ere$ce raised
agai$st the legitimate desire o! the 9uropea$ peoples to ma6e the NaEis a$d their satellites pay !or
their *ar crimes% &he 7e*ish people i$ 9urope *ere >,===,=== i$ $umber be!ore the 'orld 'ar //%
&here are $o* o$ly ?,===,=== people o! that race i$ 9urope% &hey have bee$ u$doubtedly the race,
as a race, that has su!!ered most% /! *e are $ot goi$g to as6 !or reparatio$s !or the 7e*ish people5 a$d
they certai$ly have the right to them 2 the$ let us at least as6 !or @ustice, a$d o$e o! the *ays i$
*hich *e ca$ do @ustice to the 7e*ish people is by letti$g them have a Natio$al +ome i$ Palesti$e so
as to avoid a$ti5semitism a$d to !ree the *orld !rom the Fascist da$ger o! tomorro*%
The &resident: 'e must 6eep ourselves o$ straight li$es% 'e do $ot *a$t to *a$der all over the
docume$t, so !rom $o* o$*ards, u$til *e settle this 8uestio$, *e shall deal o$ly *ith paragraph
$umber ?> 2 the Palesti$e 8uestio$% Let us deal *ith that !irst, clear that out o! the *ay, a$d the$
deal *ith the other sectio$s a!ter*ards%
)r( Reid Robinson B)o$gress o! /$dustrial Orga$isatio$s, AmericaC: #r% Preside$t a$d comrades: /
*ish to state that the )o$gress o! /$dustrial Orga$isatio$s o! the ($ited States o! America ca$$ot
agree to the ame$dme$t that *as called !or by the delegatio$ represe$ti$g the Arabs i$ regard to this
Palesti$e 8uestio$ o$ paragraph ?>% &he )%/%O% is o$ record u$e8uivocably i$ support o! a Natio$al
+ome i$ Palesti$e !or the 7e*ish people% 'e support that !or ma$y reaso$s% 'e have lear$ed that
a$ti5semitism is the i$cubator o! Fascism a$d that there has to be positive treatme$t give$ to the
7e*ish people throughout the *orld, or else a$ti5semitism *ill be used agai$ to create the basis !or a
Fascist #oveme$t i$ a$y sectio$ o! the *orld *here a demagogue may agai$ raise it, as +itler raised
it i$ Germa$y a$d as it has spread throughout the earth at the prese$t time% )ertai$ly *e are $ot
goi$g to have this 'orld )o$!ere$ce go o$ record as de$yi$g a$y relie! or a$y re!uge to a people
*ho have su!!ered as the 7e*ish people have su!!ered% )ertai$ly o$e o! the *orst thi$gs that this
)o$!ere$ce could do *ould be to delete !rom this very ade8uate report deali$g *ith this speci!ic
sub@ect o$e o! the most importa$t clauses, stati$g very emphatically that *e the Labour #oveme$t
o! the *orld, are goi$g to give relie! to a people *ho have su!!ered perhaps more tha$ a$y other
people as the result o! the spread o! Fascism throughout the *orld% &here!ore *e must i$clude that
clause% 'e o! the )%/%O% 2 a$d / am sure that / spea6 !or everyo$e here 2 do $ot *a$t to create i$ the
mi$ds o! a$y people that because *e are goi$g to come to the aid a$d assista$ce o! o$e group o!
people, i$ so doi$g *e are goi$g to discrimi$ate agai$st a$other people% 'e *a$t to have !ree a$d
e8ual treatme$t !or all the people throughout the *orld, because o$ly i$ that *ay ca$ *e have a real
democracy, a democracy that *ill carry *ith it the !u$dame$tals !or a$ e$duri$g peace% &here!ore *e
o! the ($ited States agree *ith the ame$dme$t that has bee$ suggested by #r% )arrillo o! the Lati$5
America$ )%O%L% *herei$ *e mai$tai$ *ithi$ this report all o! paragraph ?> a$d especially the last
se$te$ce, *ith the ame$dme$t that it mea$s discrimi$atio$ to*ards $o$e% 'e there!ore urge the
support o! the ame$dme$t by #r% )arrillo%
)r( *( )c%uire B)a$adia$ )o$gress o! LabourC: #r% Preside$t a$d !ello* delegates: / spea6 i$
support o! the )ommittee3s report a$d o! the ame$dme$t suggested by #r% )arrillo to paragraph ?>%
/ do so because it is the policy o! the orga$isatio$ / represe$t% At its last )o$ve$tio$, held i$ the )ity
o! Juebec, our )o$gress *e$t o$ record as supporti$g the moveme$t !or the establishme$t a$d
mai$te$a$ce o! a homela$d !or the 7e*ish people i$ Palesti$e% 'e i$ the 4omi$io$ o! )a$ada have
t*o races< *e have 9$glish a$d *e have Fre$ch% &here are A,5==,=== Fre$ch )a$adia$ people
residi$g i$ the 4omi$io$ o! )a$ada% &he 9$glish a$d the Fre$ch have resided side by side i$ the
4omi$io$ o! )a$ada !or $early ?== years *ithout a$y !rictio$ o! this 6i$d% 'e !eel that there is
ple$ty o! room !or the 7e*ish people a$d !or the Arab people i$ the #iddle 9ast% &he small sectio$
o! the #iddle 9ast *hich has bee$ set aside a$d is $o* 6$o*$ as Palesti$e ca$ very readily
accommodate about 5,===,=== or >,===,=== people% 'hat did *e !i$d at the time *he$ it *as
decided to establish a homela$d !or the 7e*ish people i$ Palesti$eG 'e !ou$d that Palesti$e itsel!
had bee$ allo*ed virtually to become desert agai$, a$d *e have *atched the developme$t o! that
cou$try si$ce the 7e*ish people have bee$ allo*ed to retur$ to it% 'e have !ou$d cities established,
i$dustries brought i$to the cou$try, ora$ge groves a$d other !ruit groves pla$ted% 'e have !ou$d the
7e*ish people e$gagi$g i$ agriculture, a$d *e have !ou$d a remar6able cultural developme$t i$
Palesti$e, all o! *hich *as co$spicuous largely by its abse$ce up to that time% /! there is a retur$ o!
the 7e*ish people to Palesti$e 2 a$d / do $ot say that they are all goi$g to retur$ by a$y mea$s, but /
do say that a large $umber o! them *ill u$doubtedly retur$ 2 they should be permitted to retur$ to
Palesti$e as a homela$d, a$d $ot be a $atio$ *ithout a cou$try%
Si$ce ,-?= the 7e*ish populatio$ o! Palesti$e has i$creased !rom >5,=== u$til to5day it $umbers a
little over 5==,===% /t is retur$i$g to a la$d *hich, as / said be!ore, could accommodate bet*ee$
5,===,=== a$d >,===,=== people% Iou *ill readily see that approimately o$ly ,= per ce$t have bee$
accommodated so !ar% 4uri$g the same period, the Ge$eral Federatio$ o! 7e*ish Labour i$ Palesti$e
has i$creased !rom .,.AA to ,.=,5==% &hat is a remar6able developme$t i$ the Labour #oveme$t i$
that cou$try i$ the short space o! t*e$ty5!ive years, a$d it has ta6e$ place $ot*ithsta$di$g all the
obstacles that *ere placed i$ their *ay% 'e !eel, i$ supporti$g the ame$dme$t o!!ered by 0rother
)arrillo, that, li6e ourselves, these t*o races o! people ca$ live side by side i$ peace a$d harmo$y
a$d ca$ develop that part o! the #iddle 9ast i! they have the *ill to do so% /$ that co$$ectio$ / *a$t
to ta6e this opportu$ity to co$gratulate the represe$tatives !rom the 7e*ish Federatio$ here !or their
remar6able achieveme$ts, established duri$g the past !i!tee$ years, i$ orga$isi$g the *or6ers i$
Palesti$e a$d improvi$g their co$ditio$s o! employme$t to a !ar greater ete$t tha$ had ever bee$
the case i$ Palesti$e previous to that developme$t, a$d also !or the remar6able amou$t o! *or6
*hich they did duri$g the years o! busi$ess depressio$ *he$ Labour *as adversely a!!ected all aver
the *orld, duri$g *hich time they $ot o$ly loo6ed a!ter the members o! their #oveme$t *ho *ere
out o! employme$t but sa* to it that they received proper medical care a$d hospitalisatio$%
&here!ore, #r% Preside$t, / have pleasure i$ supporti$g the ame$dme$t proposed by 0rother )arrillo,
a$d / do that i$ all due de!ere$ce to the i$terests o! the members o! the Labour #oveme$t *ho are
represe$ted by our Arab co$!reres at this )o$!ere$ce%
The &resident: &here is o$ly o$e other spea6er o$ the list !or paragraph ?>, a$d / suggest *e close
the debate o$ that% &he o$e spea6er is #r% Pillai o! /$dia%
)r( +( ,( &illai B/$dia$ Federatio$ o! LabourC: #r% Preside$t a$d !ello* delegates: &he 7e*s are a
most a$cie$t people *ith a rich heritage o! civilisatio$% &hey have also bee$ the most u$happy
victims o! treme$dous oppressio$, a$d that aspect o! their history has bee$ acce$tuated i$ rece$t
years% &here!ore all our sympathy is *ith them% / have amo$g them several perso$al !rie$ds, but that
*ould $ot preve$t my ta6i$g a vie* o$ this issue, i$!lue$ced e$tirely by the merits o! the case% &he
comrades !rom )a$ada, Lati$5America a$d the (%S%A% have had the adva$tage o! discussi$g this
8uestio$ i$ their o*$ $atio$al orga$isatio$s% / come !rom a$ orga$isatio$ i$ /$dia, a$d *e have had
$o opportu$ity o! discussi$g the merits o! this 8uestio$% All our sympathy i$ this matter should $ot
be allo*ed to stampede us i$to ta6i$g a decisio$ *he$ the !acts have $ot bee$ i$vestigated by us as a
body a$d *he$ *e have $ot su!!icie$t data o$ *hich to decide, o$e *ay or the other% &here!ore it is
my submissio$ that the last clause, *hich de!i$itely commits this )o$!ere$ce to the advocacy o!
Palesti$e as a Natio$al +ome !or the 7e*s, must be deleted% 0y so doi$g *e are $ot opposi$g a
Natio$al +ome bei$g so established but *e are $ot supporti$g it< *e are o$ly sayi$g *e have $ot
su!!icie$t data be!ore us%
Iesterday, *he$ #r% 4a$ge !rom /$dia suggested a$ ame$dme$t i$ respect o! /$dia, it *as 8uite
rightly poi$ted out that it *as $ot *ithi$ the terms o! re!ere$ce, although the )hairma$ o! the
)ommittee co$cer$ed sympathised *ith the vie*% 'e may leave the matter i$ the ha$ds o! those
*ho are co$cer$ed *ith this 8uestio$% &here have bee$ a series o! declaratio$s !rom the 0al!our
4eclaratio$ o$*ards% /t is said that this )ommittee has come to a decisio$ by a ma@ority a$d
there!ore *e must pass it% 0ut a!ter all, *e are the )o$!ere$ce< *e are here to adopt or $ot to adopt
the report, a$d the !act that the )ommittee came to a decisio$ by a ma@ority, or eve$ u$a$imously,
*ould $ot preclude us !rom ta6i$g a di!!ere$t vie*% 9ve$ a ma@ority o$ a )ommittee ca$ go *ro$g%
/$ this matter it is $ot a 8uestio$ o! goi$g *ro$g or goi$g right, but o! ta6i$g a decisio$ *ithout
!acts% &hey have had $o !acts be!ore them a$d they have $ot heard the populatio$s co$cer$ed% /! it
*ere merely a matter o! colo$isi$g vaca$t la$d it *ould be di!!ere$t, but it is $ot so% Palesti$e is
already i$habited, a$d the Arabs claim that they represe$t t*o5thirds o! the populatio$ a$d that the
7e*s, *ith all the immigra$ts, are o$ly o$e5third% /! Palesti$e is to become the Natio$al +ome o! the
7e*s, *hat about the other populatio$G Are they goi$g to be tra$spla$ted or etermi$atedG 'e do $ot
6$o*% Let us $ot be stampeded i$to a decisio$ !or *hich *e have $ot su!!icie$t !acts< a$d i$ our
a$iety to sho* sympathy *ith the 7e*ish people let us $ot do somethi$g *hich, a!ter all, *ill $ot
tur$ out to be a Peace Settleme$t but perhaps may be the begi$$i$g o! a $e* *ar% &his *ar *as $ot
started o$ the Palesti$e issue, although i$ the *ar the 7e*s have bee$ largely the su!!erers a$d the
victims o! +itlerite Germa$y% 0ut Palesti$e is i$ 0ritish ha$ds a$d they ca$ deal *ith it% So !ar as
0ritish statesme$ are co$cer$ed, they have al*ays sho*$ a great deal o! sympathy to*ards this
8uestio$ a$d, there!ore, there is $o reaso$ *hy *e should thi$6 they *ould $ot do @ustice% 0y
deleti$g this se$te$ce *e are $ot decidi$g agai$st a Natio$al +ome !or the 7e*s i$ Palesti$e but
suspe$di$g our @udgme$t, $ot because *e have $ot sympathy *ith the 7e*s hut because *e have $ot
the data be!ore us o$ *hich to decide this particular 8uestio$%
The &resident: As there is $o other spea6er, / *ill $o* proceed to ta6e a vote o$ the matter%
)r( *ohn +sfour BArab 'or6ers3 Society, Palesti$eC: O$ a poi$t o! order% / ope$ed this debate o$ the
ame$dme$t% &he )o$!ere$ce has heard several spea6ers, a$d / thi$6 u$der the Sta$di$g Orders / am
e$titled to reply%
The &resident: &he Sta$di$g Orders say that a delegate shall spea6 o$ly o$ce upo$ a$y o$e sub@ect
ecept *ith the epress permissio$ o! the )o$!ere$ce%
)r( +sfour< / am appeali$g to you a$d all the )o$!ere$ce that / should be give$ a$ opportu$ity to
reply%
The &resident: Iou have $o right to a reply% Iou are movi$g a$ ame$dme$t% +o*ever, i! this
)o$!ere$ce agrees to give you permissio$ to spea6 a seco$d time you may do so, but you ca$$ot
claim a reply%
)r( +sfour: &hat is my poi$t%
The &resident: &he$ leave it at that% &he delegate is as6i$g special permissio$ to spea6 a seco$d
time o$ this issue% / *ould li6e to obtai$ the vie* o! the )o$!ere$ce, a$d to 6$o* i! there is a$
agreeme$t to our colleague spea6i$g a seco$d time% BAgreed%C Lery good% No* #r% As!our you have
the opportu$ity%
)r( +sfour: #r% Preside$t a$d )omrades: / thought / told you at the outset that this sub@ect, *hich
has $ot bee$ discussed i$ !ull )o$!ere$ce a$d ta6e$ as a special sub@ect o$ the age$da, *as goi$g to
i$volve you i$ e$dless debate% / thought that *ould be the result, a$d here *e are% First o! all, / *a$t
to ma6e it very clear to all the comrades here that *he$ you spea6 about a$ti5semitism you mea$
persecutio$ o! the 7e*s a$d Arabs ali6e, because *e are Semites @ust as much% &here!ore, i! you
*a$t to relieve the *orld !rom a$ti5semitism *hich has gro*$ up a$d !lourished, $ot i$ Arab
cou$tries i! you please, but i$ 9urope, you are $ot really goi$g to solve the problem or to cha$ge the
attitude by bri$gi$g 7e*s *ho have bee$ persecuted because o! a$ti5semitism to Palesti$e% /t is most
astou$di$g, i! / may say so 2 a$d / say it *ith the utmost respect 2 that you should have bodies so
i$ter$atio$ally 6$o*$ a$d *ith such respo$sibilities upo$ their shoulders as the )%/%O% a$d the
)a$adia$ )o$gress o! Labour, adopti$g a resolutio$, i! you please, a$d urgi$g that it should be
carried at this )o$!ere$ce, *ithout previous $otice, a$d sayi$g that they are i$ !avour a$d support
*ith their utmost vigour, the establishme$t o! a Natio$al +ome i$ Palesti$e !or the 7e*s% No* / as6
those ge$tleme$, really a$d ho$estly, had you heard the Arab side be!ore you adopted that
resolutio$G +ave you set yourselves i$ @udgme$t merely upo$ represe$tatio$s made by o$e party,
*ithout either heari$g or botheri$g yourselves to i$8uire about the story !rom the other sideG )a$
*e, as real Socialists, as people *ho are tryi$g *ith this progressive moveme$t o! ours to establish
order a$d peace, !orget this most eleme$tary pri$ciple o! passi$g resolutio$s a$d ma6i$g @udgme$tG
)a$ you, !rom the poi$t o! vie* o! *orld order, give a$y decisio$ agai$st a$yo$e *ithout !irst, $ot
o$ly heari$g the other side, but dema$di$g evide$ce o! such !a$tastic claims as that Palesti$e *ould
co$tai$ 5,===,=== or >,===,=== more people G +ave you got the evide$ce a$d have you heard the
other sideG 'hy, i$ the $ame o! everybody o$ earth, do you put yourselves i$ @udgme$tG / do $ot
appreciate it< / am sorry, but / ca$$ot u$dersta$d *hy some other $atio$al group should co$stitute
themselves i$ @udgme$t a$d po*er over a$other $atio$al group% /t is somethi$g *hich is e$tirely
u$6$o*$ i$ a$y moveme$t i$ the *orld%
No* / *ish to deal *ith the !lo*ery *ords *ith *hich )omrade )arrillo tried to i$!lue$ce support
!or his ame$dme$t by getti$g certai$ thi$gs i$serted respecti$g the preservatio$ o! the legitimate a$d
$atio$al claims o! other groups% &his might be a $e* thi$g to you, but *e have bee$ su!!eri$g !rom
eactly ide$tical terms to those co$tai$ed i$ the ame$dme$t to my ame$dme$t% /t *as co$tai$ed i$
the 0al!our 4eclaratio$ itsel!% 0y the *ay, the 0al!our 4eclaratio$ does $ot say :the people o!
Palesti$e a$d their Natio$al +ome,; the 0al!our 4eclaratio$ said: :to establish i$ Palesti$e a
Natio$al +ome !or the 7e*s; 2 $ot ma6i$g o! Palesti$e their Natio$al +ome% 0ut that is o$ly a side5
sho*% /$ that 4eclaratio$ itsel!, ho*ever, there *as this ide$tical, *hat is termed i$ political
la$guage, reservatio$% 'e have su!!ered !rom that reservatio$% / *ill give you @ust o$e or t*o
i$sta$ces, because they *ill e$lighte$ you as to ho* much e!!ect reservatio$s have o$ the mi$ds o!
the people% First o! all, the Arabs *ho have lived i$ the %cou$try do $ot re8uire a$y such reservatio$%
&hey live there as a matter o! right a$d are goi$g to co$ti$ue to live there% 0ut i$ +ai!a, *hich is the
Port o! Palesti$e, there *as al*ays a$ Arab #ayor 2 al*ays% A!ter the 7e*ish immigratio$ i$to
Palesti$e the 7e*s dema$ded a$d succeeded i$ getti$g a 7e*ish #ayor i$ +ai!a 2 a$d / must tell you
that the #ayor is appoi$ted by the Gover$me$t% &here is $o 8uestio$ o! a di!!ere$ce bet*ee$ the
Arab a$d the 7e*, but / *a$t to tell you *hat the idea o! reservatio$ o! the rights o! other groups
mea$t% &he same trouble is goi$g o$ $o* i$ 7erusalem a$d it has $ot yet bee$ solved% &here ca$ be
$o doubt at all that by your committi$g yourselves to such a resolutio$ as this, *hich has $ever bee$
put be!ore )o$!ere$ce, a$d o$ *hich you have had $o evide$ce or data, $either as to the area o! the
la$d $or as to the reports previously made by commissio$s appoi$ted, $ot by the Arabs but by the
0ritish /mperial Gover$me$t, $or as to the capacity o! the la$d, $or as to the troubles *hich have
obtai$ed ever si$ce the i$ceptio$ o! the 0al!our 4eclaratio$ up to ,-A- 2 you are *ithout all those 2
that you should come a$d commit yourselves to such a resolutio$ *ould be a cause o! serious
criticism $ot o$ly by other groups o! Labour but by the *hole *orld% Iou *ould be givi$g
yourselves eactly the same po*er as the )%/%O% a$d the )a$adia$ )o$gress o! Labour have do$e,
$amely, o! givi$g @udgme$t o$ a certai$ case *ithout ever heari$g the other side i$ evide$ce%
As regards the matter o! accommodatio$ !or 5,===,=== or >,===,=== people, / ca$ 8uote to you o$e
poi$t *hich *ill i$terest you very much% /$ the years ,-A, a$d ,-A?, this claim that Palesti$e has a
capacity to ta6e ma$y millio$s o! the persecuted 7e*s *as made, a$d the 0ritish Gover$me$t se$t
someo$e to Palesti$e to i$8uire i$to the matter o! la$d a$d la$d settleme$t% +e has it i$ his report 2 it
is a public report here, that o! Sir 7oh$ +ope Simpso$ 2 that i$ ,-A, the la$d *hich *as the$ le!t to
the Arabs *as $ot su!!icie$t !or the eisti$g populatio$, *ithout havi$g regard to a$y $atural
i$crease i$ that populatio$% Ge$tleme$, / appeal to you $ot to commit yourselves o$ this ame$dme$t
at all, a$d by so doi$g / am $ot a!raid o! !aci$g a$ i$ter$atio$al orga$isatio$ *hich you yourselves
have recomme$ded% Iou have recomme$ded that this matter be solved by a$ i$ter$atio$al authority
i$ order to settle *hat appears to be a very importa$t 8uestio$% Fi$ally, / repeat that the last se$te$ce
o! paragraph ?> should be in toto repealed, *ithout the ame$dme$t suggested by #r% )arrillo%
The &resident: No* *e have to get a decisio$ o$ this matter, a$d i$ vie* o! the time a$d the other
*or6 *e have be!ore us / hope *e ca$ proceed *ithout havi$g to go through the lo$g a$d *earisome
method o! a roll call vote% &his is a proposal to re@ect a part o! the report, a$d the Sta$di$g Orders
provide that $o propositio$ shall be re@ected u$less the disse$tie$ts represe$t at least o$e5third o! the
$atio$al delegatio$s a$d comprise at least o$e5third o! the total membership o! the $atio$al
orga$isatio$s represe$ted% &here!ore / as6 those $atio$al delegatio$s *ho support the re@ectio$ o!
this part o! the report to i$dicate to that e!!ect% / hope that is clear% &hose $atio$al delegatio$s *ho
support the proposal to delete that se$te$ce o! the report *ill please sho*% O$e vote !or each $atio$al
delegatio$% &here are Palesti$e Arab, the /$dia$ Federatio$ o! Labour, the All5/$dia &rade ($io$
)o$gress, South A!rica, Nigeria, a$d Gambia 2 si $atio$al delegatio$s support the re@ectio$ o! the
paragraph% &here is $o $eed to ta6e a vote agai$st the re@ectio$ because the movers have $ot secured
the o$e5third vote *hich is re8uired% &here!ore that se$te$ce remai$s i$% #r% )arillo has moved to
add the *ords :respecti$g the legitimate i$terest o! other $atio$al groups a$d givi$g e8uality o!
rights a$d opportu$ities to all its i$habita$ts%;
)r( #( arah BArab Federatio$ o! &rade ($io$s, Palesti$eC: 'e ca$ preserve ourselves *ithout the
rights suggested by #r% )arrillo%
)r( #an5ole: #r% )hairma$, / *ish to move a$ ame$dme$t to paragraph A,: &hat the *ord
:represe$tatives; i$ the third li$e be altered to :delegates,; a$d a!ter the *ord :moveme$t,; i$ the
same li$e, the *ords :*ith !ull po*ers; be added%
The &resident: &hat is the same motio$ as the o$e )o$!ere$ce has @ust decided agai$st but put i$ a
di!!ere$t place% /t is out o! order% No other ame$dme$ts have bee$ ha$ded i$, but #r% 0a$6ole has
se$t up a $ote to say that he *ishes to spea6 o$ paragraph ?5% 'e have passed that paragraph, but /
suggest that he should be give$ the opportu$ity to address us o$ it% 4oes the )o$!ere$ce agreeG
BAgreed%C
)r( #an5ole: #r% Preside$t, / am goi$g to be very brie!% Paragraph ?5 has largely to do *ith the
8uestio$ o! the )olo$ies, a$d i$ order to ma6e that clearer / *a$t to re!er to paragraph ?A, *hich
says: :Amo$g these esse$tials, this 'orld )o$!ere$ce attaches supreme importa$ce to the removal
o! the eco$omic causes o! *ar%; / thi$6 those causes *ill be !ou$d to be implied mai$ly i$ the
8uestio$ o! the )olo$ies% &hat is *hy / !eel that paragraph should be ame$ded, a$d / have used
paragraph ?A to eplai$ my poi$t% / am actually co$cer$ed *ith paragraph ?5, a$d / am as6i$g that
a$ additio$ should be made to it% At the e$d o! the last li$e, a!ter the *ord :citiEe$ship,; / am
suggesti$g that *e add the !ollo*i$g *ords: :'ith this e$d i$ vie*, this 'orld )o$!ere$ce
advocates the setti$g by )olo$ial Po*ers o! a de!i$ite time limit *ithi$ *hich the )olo$ies *ill
attai$ $atio$hood%; #y reaso$ is 8uite clear% ($less *e dispose o! the 8uestio$ o! the )olo$ies, / am
sure a$other *ar *ill come%
&he 8uery *hich primarily may be raised is *hether the people o! the )olo$ies are ripe to gover$
themselves% / *ish to a$s*er that 8uestio$ by eplai$i$g that the !orm o! Gover$me$t that at prese$t
obtai$s i$ the )olo$ies is such as to prove that the people are ripe to gover$ themselves% 'e have i$
Nigeria, !or i$sta$ce, the !orm o! Gover$me$t 6$o*$ as :/$direct rule,; i$ *hich case $atives have
the po*er to co$trol admi$istratio$ a$d to rule their territories, o$ly sub@ect to advice by 0ritish
o!!icers% &hat system has bee$ *or6i$g *ell a$d has proved that $atives have bee$ doi$g good *or6
i$ that respect% &hat bei$g so, / do $ot see the reaso$ !or raisi$g ob@ectio$ to the )olo$ial peoples
ta6i$g their proper place i$ the )ommo$*ealth o! Natio$s a$d that is the bac6grou$d o! my
ame$dme$t%
The &resident: /s the ame$dme$t clear to delegatio$s, a$d is there a$y discussio$ upo$ itG &o be
8uite clear, it mea$s setti$g up a time limit i$ *hich each )olo$ial $atio$ is to attai$ $atio$hood5 /
*ill ta6e the vote% &hose i$ !avour o! that additio$ to the "eportG Five% &here $ot bei$g a ma@ority,
the motio$ is $ot carried%
8( %reetings fro' #ritish %uiana
#$ -ubert Critchlo! BPreside$t, 0ritish Guia$a Labour )ou$cilC
+ubert )ritchlo* *as u$!ortu$ately atte$di$g a sessio$ o! the Post5*ar "eco$structio$ )ommittee
*he$ the )hairma$ o! the )o$!ere$ce called upo$ him to spea6, a$d the )o$!ere$ce closed be!ore
a$other opportu$ity occurred !or him to address the delegates% For the be$e!it o! this record, *e give
the tet o! the speech *hich )omrade )ritchlo* had i$te$ded to deliver% 2 9ditor%
)omrade )hairma$, comrades a$d !ello* delegates: As the accredited represe$tative o! the 0ritish
Guia$a &rades ($io$ )ou$cil, it is my pleasa$t duty to bri$g you !rater$al greeti$gs a$d epressio$s
o! i$ter$atio$al solidarity !rom the *or6i$g class o! 0ritish Guia$a, *hich i$cludes *or6ers o! all
races: that is, people o! A!rica$ desce$t, 9ast /$dia$s, )hi$ese, 9uropea$s, Portuguese, a$d others o!
mied race%
/ *a$t to emphasise this poi$t, because i$ 0ritish Guia$a, o$e o! the most cosmopolita$ o! 0ritish
territories, the Labour #oveme$t, *hatever its limitatio$s, has !rom its very begi$$i$g stressed the
solidarity bet*ee$ *or6ers o! all races% &he ($io$s a!!iliated to my )ou$cil have al*ays *elcomed
i$to their ra$6s members o! the *or6i$g class, regardless o! their race, their colour, or their creed% /$
this co$$ectio$ *e !eel that *hile *e are still you$g a$d *ea6 as compared *ith the great &rade
($io$ #oveme$ts i$ ma$y other cou$tries, *e have much to teach, especially at this historical
period *he$ huma$ity is tor$ $ot o$ly by i$ter$atio$al *ars a$d social co$!licts but also by racial
stri!e< /t is this latter $ote that / *a$t to stress at this )o$!ere$ce% For *hite *or6ers *ill $ever be
able to !ree themselves u$til they @oi$ ha$ds *ith the coloured *or6ers throughout the *orld !or the
commo$ ema$cipatio$ o! all those *or6ers *ho toil by ha$d a$d brai$%
Let me !irst o! all say ho* proud / am to be able to ta6e part i$ the deliberatio$s o! this )o$!ere$ce,
at *hich vital 8uestio$s a!!ecti$g the !uture o! the /$ter$atio$al 'or6i$g )lass a$d all huma$ity are
bei$g discussed% / am $o stra$ger to i$ter$atio$al gatheri$gs, havi$g participated i$ several
i$ter$atio$al co$!ere$ces o! labour i$ 0ritai$ a$d 9urope be!ore the prese$t *ar% 0ut this is the !irst
time that *e have bee$ able to gather u$der o$e roo! such a large a$d represe$tative body, a$d / am
particularly happy to $ote the prese$ce o! so ma$y coloured delegates !rom Asia, A!rica, a$d the
'est /$dies% /! / may ma6e a criticism i$ passi$g, / *ould li6e to suggest that i$ the past the
/$ter$atio$al Labour #oveme$t *as too much a 9uropea$ #oveme$t 2 a 'hite #oveme$t% A$d i!
the *ar has do$e $othi$g else it has taught us the lesso$ o! the i$ter5depe$de$ce o! our commo$
struggle% &he 9uropea$ *or6ers *ill o$ly be able to go !or*ard by ete$di$g the ha$d o! aid,
support a$d !rie$dly co5operatio$ to the you$g *or6i$g class a$d trade u$io$ moveme$ts i$ the
)olo$ies, *ho, by the prese$ce o! their represe$tatives at this )o$!ere$ce, have demo$strated their
capacity a$d readi$ess to ta6e part i$ the commo$ struggle%
/ have bee$ ma$dated to bri$g be!ore this )o$!ere$ce a $umber o! 8uestio$s o$ *hich the *or6i$g
class o! my cou$try !eel very stro$gly% 'he$ *e received your i$vitatio$, )omrade )hairma$, our
&rades ($io$ )ou$cil co$ve$ed a special meeti$g at *hich the age$da o! this )o$!ere$ce *as
discussed, a$d resolutio$s *ere adopted o$ the !our mai$ poi$ts *hich have bee$ the sub@ects o! our
deliberatio$s at this )o$!ere$ce% As / am a great believer i$ democracy a$d the right o! the commo$
people to epress their vie*s o$ matters *hich vitally a!!ect them, / *a$t to ta6e this opportu$ity o!
bri$gi$g be!ore the )o$!ere$ce the decisio$s made by the 0ritish Guia$a &rades ($io$ )ou$cil%
/ shall deal !irst *ith Poi$t , 2 Furthera$ce o! the Allied *ar e!!ort% &he *or6ers o! my cou$try !eel
that :all soldiers a$d camp !ollo*ers u$der the ba$$ers o! the Allied $atio$s should be give$ e8ual
treatme$t i$ all respects%; 'e !eel very stro$gly about this, !or too o!te$ eve$ amo$g comrades5i$5
arms coloured me$ a$d *ome$ called upo$ to ma6e the supreme sacri!ice are discrimi$ated agai$st
i$ the matter o! pay, opportu$ities !or promotio$, a$d other respects%
So stro$gly do the *or6ers o! my cou$try rese$t racial chauvi$ism a$d colour discrimi$atio$ that
they !eel that Gover$me$ts o! all cou$tries i$ *hich racial discrimi$atio$ is legalised 2 / shall $ot
$ame these cou$tries, !or you 6$o* them, a$d / do$3t mea$ NaEi Germa$y5shall be debarred !rom
ta6i$g part i$ the 'orld Peace )o$!ere$ce, u$less they ta6e steps to a$$ul such legislatio$ be!ore
victory% Furthermore, my )ou$cil !eels that the i$!lue$ce o! the &rade ($io$ #oveme$t should be
used i$ their respective cou$tries to combat a$d discourage the practice as bei$g i$co$siste$t *ith
the pri$ciples o! Socialism a$d 4emocracy, *hich are predicated upo$ the philosophy o! the
brotherhood o! ma$%
/ $o* tur$ to the seco$d poi$t 2 the Peace Settleme$t% / have bee$ i$structed by my )ou$cil to say
that *e e$dorse the idea that o!!icial represe$tatio$ o! the /$ter$atio$al &rade ($io$ #oveme$t be
accorded at the Peace )o$!ere$ce% For Labour, *hich has bor$e the bru$t o! this struggle, has the
right to be heard i$ the shapi$g o! the $e* order% 'e there!ore hope that those *ho spea6 !or our
great 'orld #oveme$t *ill $ot !orget at that )o$!ere$ce the hopes a$d aspiratio$s o! the coloured
*or6ers o! the *orld *ho have too lo$g bee$ !orgotte$%
O$ the 8uestio$ o! Post5'ar "eco$structio$, it is our !eeli$g a$d our @ust claim that the )olo$ial a$d
sub@ect peoples should be i$cluded *ithi$ the terms o! the Atla$tic )harter, *hich should apply to
them as much as to the *hite5s6i$$ed $atio$s o! the *orld% 'e stro$gly rese$t a$y attempt to
discrimi$ate agai$st us% For i! *e are good e$ough to !ight !or the !reedom o! others, *e are good
e$ough to e$@oy it ourselves% /$ this co$$ectio$, my )ou$cil has recorded, a$d it appeals to this
)o$!ere$ce to e$dorse its sta$d, that all /mperial Po*ers *ith )olo$ies should be called upo$ to
declare a time limit *herei$ sel!5gover$me$t *ill be ete$ded to their )olo$ies, a$d that duri$g this
i$terim period the $ecessary machi$ery should be set up to trai$ the peoples o! these territories i$ the
admi$istratio$ o! their o*$ a!!airs% A$d i$ relatio$ to this 8uestio$ o! sel!5gover$me$t, *e !eel that
this )o$!ere$ce should urge upo$ the 0ritish /mperial Gover$me$t to publish the !ull report o! the
'est /$dia$ "oyal )ommissio$, so that the *or6ers o! these )olo$ies may ac8uai$t themselves *ith
the di!!iculties u$der *hich they eist a$d the remedies *hich should be applied%
&his 8uestio$ o! Post5'ar "eco$structio$ is o! vital importa$ce to the *or6ers o! my cou$try% &he
prevaili$g lo* sta$dard o! livi$g o! the i$habita$ts, $ot o$ly o! 0ritish Guia$a but o! the *hole
)aribbea$ area, calls !or the immediate creatio$ o! a large5scale i$dustrial programme to suppleme$t
our agriculture, *hich also cries oat !or !u$dame$tal reorga$isatio$% &his applies particularly to the
gro*i$g o! !ood crops !or local co$sumptio$% /t *ill surprise a$d shoc6 the delegates o! this
)o$!ere$ce to 6$o* that the bul6 o! the !ood co$sumed by the *or6i$g class i$ these pote$tially rich
tropical la$ds is imported !rom !oreig$ cou$tries% &here is treme$dous scope !or large5scale
developme$t i$ 0ritish Guia$a, *ith its abu$da$t !orests, *ater po*er a$d mi$eral resources% Such a
programme o! i$dustrialisatio$ should be carried out through a ce$tral pla$$i$g body, o$ *hich the
*or6i$g class should have !ull represe$tatio$% +a$d i$ ha$d *ith such a$ eco$omic programme
must march the educatio$al a$d cultural adva$ceme$t o! the masses, based o$ the pri$ciples
!ormulated i$ the educatio$al policy o! the 0ritish Labour Party%
/ !eel co$!ide$t that i! the decisio$s o! this )o$!ere$ce are carried out i$ the spirit o! i$ter$atio$al
brotherhood by *hich our deliberatio$s should al*ays be guided, our #oveme$t ca$ loo6 !or*ard to
a great !uture%
Lo$g live the i$ter$atio$al solidarity o! the *or6i$g classH 4o*$ *ith Fascism a$d NaEism, ($ited
*e sta$d, 4ivided *e su!!er%
9( Conference Decisions(
&he )o$!ere$ce, be!ore it bro6e up, issued "esolutio$s o$ the sub@ects *hich had bee$ discussed at
its sessio$s% /ts "esolutio$s o$ the Peace Settleme$t co$tai$ed AA paragraphs, three o! *hich have
particular beari$g o$ the )olo$ies a$d are o! speci!ic importa$ce to the sub@ect peoples% &hese read
as !ollo*s:
,8% &his 'orld )o$!ere$ce re@oices i$ the declared purpose o! the Allied Gover$me$ts to give e!!ect
to the pri$ciples o! the Atla$tic )harter, by recog$isi$g a$d de!e$di$g the right o! all peoples to
choose the !orm o! Gover$me$t u$der *hich they *ill live% &he resolve o! the Allied Gover$me$ts
to secure the restoratio$ o! sovereig$ rights a$d sel!5gover$me$t to the peoples *ho have see$ their
democratic i$stitutio$s ruthlessly uprooted, a$d @oi$tly to assist the people i$ every liberated cou$try
to create the co$ditio$s i$ *hich stable a$d represe$tative Gover$me$ts, resti$g upo$ the !ree
co$se$t o! the people, ca$ come i$to eiste$ce, *ill have the support o! the &rade ($io$ #oveme$t%
?=% &he &rade ($io$ #oveme$t *ill loo6 to the Sa$ Fra$cisco )o$!ere$ce to set the seal o! !i$al
agreeme$t upo$ the policy *hich the leaders o! the three Great Po*ers have co$siste$tly pursued
si$ce they !ramed the Atla$tic )harter, a$d rea!!irmed a$d ampli!ied at the #osco* a$d &ehera$
)o$!ere$ces, i$ *hich their u$ity o! purpose *as stre$gthe$ed% /$ those historic meeti$gs, the desire
o! the peoples o! alt cou$tries, great or small, !or collaboratio$ a$d active participatio$ o$ the part o!
their Gover$me$ts i$ the sacred tas6 o! riddi$g the *orld o! tyra$$y, slavery, oppressio$, a$d racial
a$d religious i$tolera$ce, !ou$d epressio$< a$d this 'orld )o$!ere$ce is pro!ou$dly co$vi$ced that
*ith the comi$g o! peace the !reedom5lovi$g peoples over all the earth *ill give their support a$d
cou$te$a$ce o$ly to those Gover$me$ts that *ill co5operate i$ !rami$g a$d mai$tai$i$g the )harter%
?5% /$ the vie* o! this 'orld )o$!ere$ce, it is li6e*ise $ecessary to bri$g to a$ e$d the system o!
colo$ies, depe$de$cies a$d sub@ect cou$tries as spheres o! eco$omic eploitatio$, a$d to !acilitate
immediately the developme$t o! !ree &rade ($io$s i$ those cou$tries% /$ the comi$g peace, the
!ou$datio$s must be laid *ith all possible speed, a$d i$ accorda$ce *ith Article A o! the Atla$tic
)harter, o! a *orld order i$ *hich $o$5sel!5gover$i$g commu$ities a$d $atio$s ca$ attai$ the status
o! !ree $atio$s that *ill e$able them to gover$ themselves a$d to develop their o*$ i$stitutio$s o!
!ree citiEe$ship%
Post5*ar reco$structio$ a$d immediate trade u$io$ dema$ds i$cluded i$ the resolutio$ o$ this
sub@ect have *ide implicatio$s, a$d there is $o doubt that they ca$ be applied to )olo$ial territories
*ith resulta$t great adva$tages% &hey are more or less summed up i$ the !i$al paragraph:
,-% /$ co$clusio$ this 'orld &rade ($io$ )o$!ere$ce *hich demo$strates so e!!ectively the u$ity o!
orga$ised Labour throughout the *orld proclaims the !ollo*i$g charter o! basic &rade ($io$ a$d
*or6ers3 rights, the recog$itio$ o! *hich it is determi$ed to secure3 i$ all cou$tries a$d their
depe$de$cies%
BaC 'or6people shall be !ree to orga$ise themselves i$ &rade ($io$s a$d to e$gage !reely i$ all
$ormal &rade ($io$ activities, i$cludi$g that o! collective bargai$i$g%
BbC 'or6people shall be !ree to establish co5operatives a$d a$y other mutual aid orga$isatio$s%
BcC &here shall be !reedom o! speech, press, assembly, religio$ a$d political associatio$%
BdC 9very !orm o! political, eco$omic or social discrimi$atio$ based o$ race, creed, colour or se
shall be elimi$ated, a$d i$ this se$se e8ual pay !or e8ual *or6 shall be established% /$ cases *here
you$g people are doi$g adult *or6 they shall receive the adult rate o! pay%
BeC &here shall be e8uality o! educatio$al a$d vocatio$al opportu$ities !or all people%
B!C &here shall be suitable employme$t available at ade8uate rates o! pay !or all re8uiri$g *or6%
BgC &here shall be ade8uate protectio$ i$ all the circumsta$ces o! li!e *here this is re8uired to
guara$tee social a$d eco$omic security to every citiEe$%
9( :igerian Labour on the )o0e
#$ T( +( #an5ole BPreside$t, &rade ($io$s )o$gress o! NigeriaC
Shortly a!ter the outbrea6 o! the ge$eral stri6e i$ Nigeria, *hich started o$ 7u$e ?,, ,-.5, #r%
0a$6ole *as released !rom the o!!ice o! Preside$t o! the &rades ($io$ )o$gress o! Nigeria 2 9ditor%
Nigeria, *ith a$ area o! approimately AK?,=== s8uare miles a$d a populatio$ probably $ot !ar short
o! A=,===,===, ra$6s $et to /$dia i$ the 0ritish% )ommo$*ealth, a$d possesses imme$se eco$omic
resources% 9very Nigeria$ tribe has a !orm o! culture all its o*$ B!ou$ded o$ its traditio$al code o!
moralsC, *hich the impact o! 9uropea$ civilisatio$ has to be preve$ted !rom i$@udiciously upsetti$g%
/$ spite o! her 8. years o! 0ritish rule, Nigeria still su!!ers !rom grave social, political a$d eco$omic
disabilities% &here are clear evide$ces o! overcro*di$g a$d bad housi$g, mal$utritio$,
u$derpayme$t, disease, a$d restricted citiEe$ship5a rather u$happy co$ditio$%
&he great bul6 o! the peasa$try, comprisi$g some 8= perce$t o! the e$tire populatio$, still depe$ds
ge$erally o$ subsiste$ce !armi$g% &he *or6i$g populatio$ is employed i$ the civil service, i$ the
merca$tile houses B*hich are, i$ the mai$, establishme$ts o*$ed a$d co$trolled by !oreig$
mo$opoliesC, a$d i$ the coal ti$ a$d gold mi$es, ge$erally ear$i$g a pitta$ce% Amo$g the educated
class are to be !ou$d pro!essio$als a$d graduates o! 0ritish a$d America$ u$iversities%
A !e* trade u$io$s had eisted !or the protectio$ o! *or6ers o! certai$ categories Be%g%, the Nigeria
)ivil Service ($io$C be!ore trade u$io$ism became legalised i$ ,-A8% Si$ce the$ $o less tha$ 85
trade u$io$s have bee$ registered, *ith a$ aggregate active membership o! about A=,===, besides
occasio$al members placed at about !i!tee$ times that !igure% &hese u$io$s are, most o! them,
orga$ised vertically a$d are protective o! the collective i$terests o! all the *or6ers co$$ected *ith
the respective establishme$ts i$ *hich they are employed%
&he Gover$me$t proposal 2 about October, ,-.? 2 to e$act the 9sse$tial 'or6s Order served as a
sig$al !or co$certi$g trade u$io$ activities< a$d steps primarily i$te$ded to cou$teract that proposal,
o$ the grou$d that o$ly employers o! labour stood to be$e!it thereby, resulted a mo$th later i$ the
!ormatio$ o! the Federated &rades ($io$ o! Nigeria Bre$amed the &rades ($io$ )o$gress about $i$e
mo$ths laterC% &his orga$isatio$ is *ai$g stro$g a$d is capable o! great achieveme$ts !or the
*or6ers%
Workers needs.
&he $eeds o! the *or6ers o! Nigeria, thoroughly eami$ed by the &%(%)% at its )o$!ere$ce held i$
Lagos i$ August, ,-.., a$d duly represe$ted to the Nigeria$ Gover$me$t i$ a $umber o! resolutio$s,
call !or urge$t atte$tio$% /$ that co$$ectio$ the !ollo*i$g importa$t poi$ts are to be $oted:
BaC &he problem o! resettleme$t a$d rehabilitatio$ o! demobilised soldiers, a$d *ar *or6ers is o!
immediate importa$ce% /t is imperative that those o! our me$ *ho retur$ !rom the *ar !ro$t still able5
bodied shall be resettled i$ their pre5*ar @obs a$d paid dece$t *ages, or else assisted to *or6 o$
their o*$ u$der a$ :Assisted /$dustrial 4evelopme$t Scheme%; &hose o! them *ho retur$ disabled
ought to be !ully compe$sated a$d gra$ted reaso$able pe$sio$% /t still has to be drive$ home to our
Gover$me$t that our soldiers a$d *ar *or6ers *ho have bee$ ma6i$g great sacri!ices i$ de!e$ce o!
democratic pri$ciples deserve to be restored to a really happy li!e at the e$d o! the *ar%
BbC Nigeria, *ith her vast pote$tial *ealth, is at prese$t u$der5developed% &here is great $eed !or
i$dustrial scholarships Bside by side *ith the eisti$g social scie$ce scholarshipsC !or the trai$i$g o!
ca$didates to act as the spearhead o! the cou$try3s i$dustrial drive% )a$didature should $ot, as
hitherto, be co$!i$ed to Gover$me$t serva$ts% #ethods o! selectio$ $eed to be revised< a$d the
$ecessary 8uali!icatio$s $eed i$clude $atural aptitude a$d public spirit% &he establishme$t o$ a large
scale o! such i$dustries as !ishi$g, !ish a$d meat curi$g, buildi$g, ceme$t, glaEed pottery a$d tile5
ma6i$g, spi$$i$g, tetile a$d shoe5ma6i$g, to me$tio$ o$ly a !e*, should be$e!it Nigeria greatly,
provided they are developed !or the eco$omic *ell5bei$g o! the i$dige$ous populatio$ by e!!ectively
chec6i$g mo$opolistic i$!lue$ces $o* so !irmly established all over the cou$try% &he agricultural
a$d mi$eral possibilities o! the soil have also to be !urther eplored a$d the use o! appropriate
moder$ machi$ery duly taught *ith a vie* to improvi$g productivity a$d i$troduci$g processi$g to
supply part o! our local $eeds%
BcC /t is believed that the time has arrived !or a comprehe$sive social security scheme to be made to
cover such adverse circumsta$ces o! li!e as u$employme$t, sic6$ess, accide$t, old age, etc% &his
importa$t matter has rece$tly bee$ brought to the $otice o! the Gover$me$t, *hich has $ot yet
declared its attitude%
BdC A poi$t o! great /mport to the Nigeria$ &%(%)% is the securi$g o! trade u$io$ represe$tatio$ o$
Gover$me$t Labour )ommittees agai$st *a$to$ i$ter!ere$ce o$ the part o! i$!lue$tial employers% /t
is $ecessary to e$sure that there shall be $o recurre$ce o! a rece$t episode i$ *hich the &%(%)% !ou$d
itsel! up agai$st the head o! a Gover$me$t departme$t, *ho rigidly ob@ected to a trade u$io$ist
Bi$cide$tally a$ o!!icial i$ his o*$ departme$tC bei$g $omi$ated to the Labour Advisory 0oard !or
Lagos a$d )olo$y%
BeC &he eisti$g policy o! lo* *ages !or labour i$ Nigeria must be reversed% &he mi$imum *age o! a
mi$e5*or6er o$ the Plateau is -d% a day< the average mi$imum *age !or u$s6illed labour is ,s% a
day< a$d that !or clerical or tech$ical labour, As% a day% /t is de!i$itely huma$ly impossible !or most
*age5ear$ers to mai$tai$ a dece$t livi$g sta$dard *ith such a *age level /$ co$sideratio$ o! this
!act, the &%(%)% has bee$ advocati$g a thorough i$vestigatio$ by the Gover$me$t o! the *ages
8uestio$, a$d the $atio$alisatio$ o! such i$dustries as mi$i$g, tra$sport, timber, etc, to chec6 labour
eploitatio$% &here is $o* a mi$imum *age5!ii$g machi$ery< but it operates rather slo*ly a$d, to
all appeara$ce, !avours the eisti$g order% /t could here be me$tio$ed that the Nigeria$ *or6er dra*s
$o !amily allo*a$ce, $or are his childre$ educated by the State: he there!ore labours co$ti$ually
u$der a great !i$a$cial strai$%
B!C &he housi$g problem is grave% (rge$t atte$tio$ must be give$ to: BiC provisio$ o! ade8uate
d*elli$g houses !or *or6ers Bpre!erably $ear their *or65placesC< BiiC slum cleari$g, a$d BiiiC e!!ective
re$t co$trol% /t is most i$sa$itary !or si or more people Bi$ ma$y cases i$cludi$g married couplesC to
live i$ a room co$tai$i$g ,== s8uare !eet o! !loor space% #ost o! the te$eme$ts occupied by *or6ers
are hovels !or *hich high re$ts are dema$ded% &he beari$g o! these co$ditio$s o$ health a$d
mortality are too obvious to be stressed here,
BgC &he atte$tio$ o! the Gover$me$t has rece$tly bee$ i$vited to the $eed !or revisi$g the
'or6me$3s )ompe$satio$ Ordi$a$ce5BiC to provide improved rates o! compe$satio$ !or i$dustrial
a$d occupatio$al accide$ts, a$d BiiC to cover cases o! i$dustrial a$d occupatio$al diseases at prese$t
outside its scope% /t is shoc6i$g that u$der sectio$ > BaC o! the 'or6me$3s )ompe$satio$ Ordi$a$ce,
,-.,, the depe$da$ts o! a !atally *ou$ded *or6er should receive o$ly thirty mo$ths3 ear$i$gs o! the
deceased *or6er B*or6i$g out at F-= *ith a$ i$come o! FA> p%a%C, a$d that such compe$satio$
should i$ $o case eceed F>==% &hese are progressively reduced u$der sub5sectio$s BbC a$d BcC% /$
case o! perma$e$t total i$capacity !rom i$@ury, sectio$ K stipulates that compe$satio$ should e8ual
the *ou$ded *or6er3s *ages !or !orty5t*o mo$ths Bi%e%, F,?> *ith a$ i$come o! FA> per a$$umC, but
i$ $o case eceed FK5=% /$ both cases, the amou$ts o! compe$satio$ are meagre a$d absolutely
i$ade8uate% &he Gover$me$t must ameliorate this i$de!e$sible positio$%
Demand for Civil Rights
&he co$ti$ued restrictio$ o! the perso$al liberty o! #r% #% A% O% /mouduM, Preside$t o! the "ail*ay
'or6ers3 ($io$, is regarded by the e$tire labour !orce o! Nigeria as a specime$ o! the eercise o!
arbitrary po*er by the Gover$me$t% No ta$gible reaso$ has bee$ give$ to @usti!y the rather
u$compromisi$g attitude bei$g mai$tai$ed by the Gover$me$t i$ this matter% O$e thi$g is clear: #r%
/moudu is a 0ritish5protected perso$ *hose o$ly desire is to !ree his !ello*5*or6ers !rom
eploitatio$, poverty a$d *a$t% Should trade u$io$ leadership be thus me$acedG
A$other specime$ o! arbitrary use o! gover$me$tal po*er is the placi$g o! the "igerian Wor#er Bthe
orga$ o! the )o$gressC u$der ce$sorship by a$ order o! the Gover$or dated the ,st 7uly, ,-..% &his
order, served as it *as o$ the )o$gress *ithout a$y previous *ar$i$g, is regarded by the *or6ers as
co$stituti$g a$ u$*arra$ted attac6 o$ the !reedom o! the press5ac6$o*ledged throughout the !ree
*orld as a precious heritage o! democracy% &he "igerian Wor#er is avo*edly a$ti5capitalist i$
outloo6, bei$g u$reservedly dedicated to the cause o! the *or6ers o! Nigeria%
/$ Nigeria, the 4epartme$t o! Labour serves as the o$ly ve$ue !or eami$i$g all labour matters, a$d
u$derta6es prelimi$ary e$8uiries a$d co$ciliatio$ i$ respect o! reported or apprehe$ded trade
disputes% /t *as i$ co$$ectio$ *ith its latter !u$ctio$ that it *as sharply criticised by the )o$gress5
i$5Sessio$ rece$tly !or suspected bias to*ards employers o! labour, a$d o$ accou$t o! the
victimisatio$ o! pri$cipal trade u$io$ spo6esme$ *hich had o!te$ resulted !rom its co$ciliatio$
methods% &here have occasio$ally bee$ cases o! mass dismissals o! trade u$io$ists as reprisals !or
dari$g to lead agitatio$s !or improved *or6i$g co$ditio$s% &he *or6ers are there!ore dema$di$g the
i$troductio$ o! the /$dustrial )ourts system as a much more satis!actory machi$ery !or settli$g trade
disputes%
Nigerians Want Political Democracy
Politically, the *or6ers o! Nigeria are at the mome$t sadly at a disadva$tage% &he limited !ra$chise
gra$ted to Nigeria over t*e$ty years ago, by its i$come 8uali!icatio$ o! F,== p%a%, has deprived most
o! them o! o$e o! their eleme$tary civil rights by ecludi$g them !rom the electorate% &he i$dige$ous
populatio$ o! Nigeria, by havi$g !our elected members o$ the Legislative )ou$cil Broughly o$e5
eleve$th o! its membershipC, mai$tai$s mi$ority represe$tatio$ o! a privileged mi$ority% &he
9ecutive )ou$cil admits o! $o i$dige$ous elective represe$tatio$ *hatsoever% /t is clear, the$, that
i$ the abse$ce o! adult su!!rage the *or6ers o! Nigeria *ho are givi$g their services i$ developi$g
the cou$try ca$ hardly have a$y voice i$ its admi$istratio$% &his u$te$able positio$ must be
reversed, a$d the *or6ers must be e$!ra$chised a$d e$do*ed as !ull citiEe$s o! the 0ritish
)ommo$*ealth o! Natio$s%
&he *or6ers !eel stro$gly that the eisti$g )o$stitutio$ o! Nigeria 2 almost a 8uarter o! a ce$tury old
2 has already served its time a$d must be replaced, *ithout delay, *ith a $e* o$e based e$tirely o$
sou$d democratic ideals a$d reduci$g that much5proclaimed doctri$e o! part$ership i$to practical
terms% 0ritish *or6ers should deplore a$d protest agai$st all platitudes desig$ed to i$sult the
i$tellige$ce o! Nigeria$s a$d to traduce the good $ame o! their great, beloved, but much5$eglected,
cou$try% 0ritish admi$istrators i$ Nigeria *ould be doi$g a great $atio$al service to Great 0ritai$ i!
they stopped stulti!yi$g the reaso$able a$d legitimate aspiratio$s o! the people a$d, by poi$ti$g i$
less disparagi$g terms to the $o* visible sig$s o! gro*th a$d progress, help to place Nigeria o$ her
!eet i$ the democratic *orld% &hey must ac6$o*ledge her great adva$ce i$ rece$t years%
&he Nigeria$ *or6ers are !ully co$vi$ced that their immediate tas6 is to e$sure that their *or6i$g
co$ditio$s are improved< that their livi$g a$d social sta$dards are elevated< that their civil rights are
co$ceded< a$d that their cou$try 2 Nigeria 2 is, !or the time bei$g, gra$ted /$ter$al Sel!5Gover$me$t%
Peace *ill abou$d i$ the lo$g5co$tested plums o! *ar !or all the *orld to shareH A$d Nigeria shall
$ot be !orgotte$HH
M #r% /moudu *as released o$ 7u$e ?, ,-.5, a$d o$ the outbrea6 o! the ge$eral stri6e *as elected to
the preside$cy o! the Nigeria &%(%) i$ the place o! #r% 0a$6ole%
1;( %eneral Stri5e in :igeria
O$ 7u$e ?,st, ,-.5, a!ter the !ailure o! protracted represe$tatio$s to the Gover$me$t !or salary
i$creases to meet the very much i$creased cost o! livi$g, ,5=,=== clerical a$d $o$5clerical *or6ers
i$ the Nigeria civil service, came out i$ a ge$eral stri6e o! all Gover$me$t departme$ts% &he $o$5
clerical u$s6illed *or6ers *ere claimi$g a mi$imum *age o! ?s% >d% a day%
Si$ce ,-.,, the cost o! livi$g i$ Nigeria has rise$ by over ?== perce$tum as a direct co$se8ue$ce o!
the *ar% &he Gover$me$t ac6$o*ledge this !act, a$d has gra$ted several 6i$ds o! allo*a$ces *hich
e!!ectually be$e!ited rather a !e* 9uropea$ o!!icials tha$ the A!rica$s, 9amples o! these allo*a$ces
are the Separatio$ Allo*a$ce, the )ost o! Livi$g Allo*a$ce, a$d the Local Allo*a$ce% &he A!rica$
*or6ers, especially those i$ the $o$5clerical services, *ho have bee$ most seriously hit by the rise i$
prices, received little i$crease i$ *age%
The -istoric Resolution
At a mass meeti$g held o$ Saturday, the ,-th day o! #ay, ,-.5, at the Glover #emorial +all i$
Lagos, a resolutio$ *as passed u$a$imously by ,K ($io$s declari$g, amo$g other thi$gs:
:BiC &hat *e stro$gly deplore the callous attitude o! Gover$me$t to the su!!eri$gs, o! the masses o!
A!rica$ *or6ers, mostly me$ *ith large !amilies, as set out i$ a previous memora$dum issued by the
A!rica$ )ivil Serva$ts &ech$ical 'or6ers3 ($io$ BNigeriaC,
:BiiC A$d !urther that !aili$g a gra$t i$ !ull Brepeat: i$ !ullC *ith e!!ect !rom the ,st April, ,-.., o! the
etremely modest dema$d co$tai$ed i$ the letter O! ??$d #arch, ,-.5, to *it:
:Labour: #i$imum daily *age to be ?s% >d% per day<
:Subordinate grades bet(een Labour and Standard Scale: 5= perce$t i$crease o$ the eisti$g )ost
o! Livi$g Allo*a$ce< *ithi$ o$e cale$dar mo$th he$ce, i%e%, $ot later tha$ &hursday, the ?,st 7u$e,
,-.5, the 'or6ers o! Nigeria shall proceed to see6 their o*$ remedy, *ith due regard to la* a$d
order o$ the o$e ha$d a$d starvatio$ o$ the other%;
:&hat a mi$imum daily *age o! ?s% >d% be established !or all u$s6illed labour%;
/$ a reply to the letter re!erred to above, dated A,st August, ,-.., the Gover$me$t *rote:
:A ge$eral revie* o! emolume$ts a$d other co$ditio$s o! service o! all Gover$me$t serva$ts *ill, it
is proposed, be u$derta6e$ as soo$ as possible a!ter the *ar%;
/$ a$other letter, dated ,,th 7u$e, ,-.5, the Gover$me$t *rote that: :A$ i$crease i$ mo$ey *ages
*ill $ot secure a$y betterme$t i$ the co$ditio$s o! livi$g u$less ple$ti!ul supplies o! !oods a$d goods
are available%%%agricultural productio$ ca$$ot be epected to sho* immediate improveme$t a$d
eisti$g co$ditio$s are li6ely to co$ti$ue !or some time%; &his reply, $aturally, did $ot satis!y the
members i$ the $o$5clerical bra$ch o! the service o*i$g to the i$de!i$ite$ess o! the time at *hich
the poi$ts raised o$ their behal! are li6ely to be co$sidered%
/t is clear !rom this summary that the *or6ers o! Nigeria have eercised all patie$ce a$d ehausted
all co$stitutio$al mea$s to come to a reaso$able settleme$t, but the Gover$me$t *as $ot *illi$g to
co5operate%
/$ order to re$der support to the stri6ers, a meeti$g *as co$ve$ed at )o$*ay +all, Lo$do$, o$
Su$day, 7uly ,5th, ,-.5, u$der the auspices o! the 'est A!rica$ Stude$ts3 ($io$, &he /$ter$atio$al
A!rica$ Service 0ureau, &he A!rica$ Progressive Associatio$, the Pa$5A!rica$ Federatio$, &he
)olo$ial Peoples3 ($ited )ou$cil, &he 0rotherhood o! A!rica$ Peoples, a$d A!rica$ *or6ers
domiciled i$ Great 0ritai$% &he meeti$g *as also atte$ded by members o! the /$dia$ commu$ity i$
Lo$do$ a$d 0ritish sympathisers% Similar meeti$gs *ere held i$ #a$chester a$d Liverpool% &he
!ollo*i$g "esolutio$ *as proposed a$d adopted by the Lo$do$ meeti$g:
B/C /t co$dem$s *ith all the emphasis at its comma$d the u$compromisi$g attitude o! the Nigeria$
Gover$me$t i$ co$$ectio$ *ith the eve$ts leadi$g up to a$d the co$se8ue$ces o! the said stri6e, to
*it:
BaC &he re!usal o$ the part o! the said Gover$me$t to arrive at a reaso$able compromise *ith or
co$cede to the legitimate dema$d o! the tech$ical *or6ers, *ho have bee$ o$ stri6e si$ce 7u$e ?,st,
,-.5, !or i$creased cost o! livi$g a*ard a$d the moderate mi$imum *age o! ?s% >d% per diem, i$
spite o! the phe$ome$al rise i$ the cost o! livi$g as the direct co$se8ue$ces o! the prese$t *ar, !or
the success!ul prosecutio$ o! *hich 'est A!rica$s have made e$ormous co$tributio$s both i$ me$
a$d materials%
BbC &he !ascist method adopted by the said Gover$me$t i$ sti!li$g public opi$io$ by suppressi$g the
West $frican %ilot a$d the Dail& Co'et, a$d the alleged threate$i$g o! the 9ditor, #r% N$amdi
AEi6i*e, *ith deportatio$ !rom Nigeria !or supporti$g the stri6ers, a$d reimposi$g 4e!e$ce
"egulatio$s *hich had bee$ repealed i$ #ay, ,-.5%
BcC &he studied policy o! discrimi$atio$ pursued by the Nigeria$ Gover$me$t as bet*ee$ the
di!!ere$t sectio$s o! its employees i$ the a*ard o! cost o! livi$g relie!, as such policy completely
$egatives its u$i$!ormed assertio$ that a$ i$crease i$ mo$ey *ages to the poorly5paid stri6ers *ould
$ot secure !or them a$y betterme$t i$ their co$ditio$s o! livi$g%
B//C
BaC &he meeti$g there!ore calls upo$ the Secretary o! State !or the )olo$ies a$d the Nigeria$
Gover$me$t to aba$do$ the use o! military !orce a$d the reimposed 4e!e$ce "egulatio$s i$
i$timidati$g the stri6ers a$d disti$guished citiEe$s o! Nigeria< to display real statesma$ship i$ this
u$precede$ted crisis by bri$gi$g the stri6e to a$ e$d, releasi$g the &rade ($io$ leaders u$der arrest,
rei$stati$g the West $frican %ilot a$d the Dail& Co'et, guara$teei$g the perso$al sa!ety o! #r%
N$amdi AEi6i*e i$ Nigeria< a$d to gra$t the dema$ds o! the ($io$ a$d re!rai$ !rom a$y act o!
victimisatio$ agai$st the stri6ers i$ the eercise o! their legal a$d co$stitutio$al rights%
BbC )alls upo$ the &rade ($io$ )o$gress o! Great 0ritai$ to i$terve$e immediately i$ the prese$t
dispute so as to e$sure a !air settleme$t a$d to use its good o!!ices, i$ co5operatio$ *ith the *or6ers
throughout the 0ritish )ommo$*ealth a$d 9mpire to secure !or the stri6ers such *ages a$d
co$ditio$s o! service co$siste$t *ith the lo!ty ideals e$u$ciated i$ the Sa$ Fra$cisco )harter%
B///C &he meeti$g mea$*hile ete$ds its sympathy to the *or6ers o! the A!rica$ )ivil Serva$ts
&ech$ical 'or6ers3 ($io$ o! Nigeria i$ their struggle to secure their legitimate dema$ds, a$d
authorises the $et proceeds o! the co$tributio$s made at this historic meeti$g to be remitted as soo$
as possible to Nigeria to relieve the hardship caused by the stri6e to the *ives a$d childre$ o! the
stri6ers%
/ssued by: Pa$5A!rica$ Federatio$
'est A!rica$ Stude$ts3 ($io$
9ighty5!ive pou$ds *ere collected at the Lo$do$ meeti$g< F,== at #a$chester a$d F.= at Liverpool%
11( Trade Union )o0e'ent on the %old Coast
0y *oe S( +nnan
&he Labour #oveme$t o$ the Gold )oast is comparatively you$g% 0e!ore ,-A-, the *or6ers i$ the
mi$es, the rail*ays, a$d the merca$tile !ield made several attempts at orga$isi$g themselves i$to
some !orm o! 'or6ers3 ($io$ !or the purpose o! bargai$i$g !or i$creases i$ *ages a$d better
*or6i$g co$ditio$s% A!ter the ,-A- a$d ,-., rail*ay stri6es, i$ *hich several other *or6ers B$otably
the #u$icipal a$d the Public 'or6s 4ept%C @oi$ed, it *as stro$gly !elt that the orga$isatio$ o! the
*or6i$g classes i$to properly co$stituted ($io$s *as $ecessary a$d by the 6i$d co5operatio$
bet*ee$ the 0ritish &rade ($io$ #oveme$t a$d the )olo$ial O!!ice a$ eperie$ced &rade ($io$
o!!icial, #r% 7o$es o! the 'elsh #i$ers3 ($io$, *as e$trusted *ith this all5importa$t *or6% /$ less
tha$ ,8 mo$ths he had helped the 'ester$ Provi$ce #otor 4rivers3 Associatio$ a$d the Gold )oast
"ail*ay A!rica$ 9mployees3 ($io$ to be orga$ised i$to registered u$io$s *ith legal recog$itio$%
&he "ail*ay #oveme$t has i$ ? years raised A,5== members, *hich represe$t more tha$ >= per ce$t
o! the total $umber o! A!rica$s employed o$ the rail*ays% &he #i$es ($io$ *ill soo$ be registered
a$d it *ill certai$ly be a$ uphill tas6 to bri$g i$to its membership most o! the .5,=== employees%
&he #erca$tile ($io$, *hich has a membership o! over ?,===, also a*aits registratio$% A ($io$ o!
4omestic Serva$ts has also bee$ !ormed% 0esides these there are the cra!t u$io$s, such as the
Goldsmiths3 ($io$, Leather*or6ers3 ($io$, a$d &ailors3 ($io$% /$ each o! these ($io$s membership
is e$tirely volu$tary% &he !igures give$ above may $ot be very impressive, but i! o$e co$siders that
!our years ago labour o$ the Gold )oast *as u$orga$ised, he *ill surely observe a progressive
gro*th o! &rade ($io$ activity i$ the )olo$y%
/t should be clearly poi$ted out that the positio$ o! the Labour O!!icer is purely advisory a$d
co$sultative: his positio$ does $ot i$ a$y *ay pre@udice the decisio$s a$d actio$s o! the u$io$< i$
!act, o$ce established a$d registered, the u$io$ ca$ o!te$ carry o$ *ithout his help, ecept i$ special
circumsta$ces% &he Labour O!!icer is out o$ the coast to help a$d co5operate *ith the *or6i$g
classes to build up a Labour #oveme$t o$ ge$erally accepted democratic trade u$io$ pri$ciples,
allo*a$ce bei$g give$ to local co$ditio$s, labour traditio$s a$d customs% &he *hole orga$isatio$ is
i$ the ha$ds o! the A!rica$s5its o!!icers are elected by popular votes< co$!ere$ces are held a$$ually
a$d the problems discussed are $o di!!ere$t i$ the mai$ !rom those discussed at a typical 0ritish
co$!ere$ce, !or the $eeds a$d problems o! the *or6i$g class are the same every*here%
The Railway Union
/$ the Gold )oast "ail*ay A!rica$ 9mployees3 ($io$ as i$ the other u$io$s, each member pays ,s% a
mo$th, *hich represe$ts about A perce$t o! the labourer3s mo$thly pay% 'e have a rather u$orthodo
method o! collecti$g our dues 2 a method *hich may perhaps sou$d stra$ge to the average &rade
($io$ist i$ 0ritai$% 0y a$ arra$geme$t made by the u$io$3s eecutive a$d the labour o!!icer o$ the
o$e ha$d a$d the rail*ay ma$ageme$t o$ the other, the chie! accou$ta$t o! the rail*ay, *ith the
approval o! the Gover$me$t, has agreed to deduct the mo$thly dues !rom the *ages a$d salaries o!
the members, , perce$t o! the mo$ey collected bei$g deducted by the ma$ageme$t !or secretarial
a$d other epe$ses% &his method o! collecti$g dues is adopted because it is co$ve$ie$t a$d epedie$t
u$der eisti$g local circumsta$ces% &he rail*ay o$ the Gold )oast is a Gover$me$t co$cer$ a$d all
pe$sio$able a$d $o$5pe$sio$able sta!! are eligible !or membership o! the u$io$% A$other stri6i$g
di!!ere$ce bet*ee$ our orga$isatio$ a$d the 0ritish "ail*ay ($io$ is that the cler6s a$d all the
ma$ual *or6ers are i$ o$e a$d the same orga$isatio$, u$li6e the 0ritish practice, *here it is split
i$to the Natio$al ($io$ o! "ail*ayme$ Bma$ual *or6ersC a$d the "ail*ay )ler6s Associatio$%
&he problem o! i$crease o! *ages is a pressi$g o$e% &he average labourer ear$s /s% >d% a day *hich
is -s% a *ee6 as compared *ith >5s% a *ee6 !or his 0ritish labourer comrade% /t is true that *e are
compari$g t*o classes o! *or6me$ i$ di!!ere$t categories, but it is also true that disparity i$ the
*ages o! the t*o is e$ormous a$d u$6i$d% &he popular !ormula that the sta$dard o! livi$g o! the
A!rica$ is lo* a$d must there!ore be paid such ridiculously lo* *ages ca$ $o lo$ger be applied%
#ost o! the *or6i$g classes live i$ the big i$dustrial to*$s *here house re$ts a$d cost o! !ood are
very high% A$ average livi$g room measuri$g ,= !t% by ,= !t% costs at least ,5s% a mo$th to re$t% /$to
this the *or6er, his *i!e a$d childre$ pac6 themselves: the room is used as bedroom, di$i$g room,
lou$ge a$d !or ma$y other purposes% &his leads to overcro*di$g *ith co$se8ue$t bad health a$d
i$e!!icie$cy at *or6% Food costs at least ?s% a day< this !igure represe$ts the absolute mi$imum level:
it does $ot ta6e i$to accou$t etras *hich are sometimes $eeded !or a cha$ge H 'ith medical
epe$ses, childre$3s school !ees a$d clothi$g, the mi$imum *age that a$y labourer should ear$ i$
order to have a !airly com!ortable livi$g is As% a day, *hich *or6s out at ,8s% a *ee6< a$ythi$g<
belo* this is i$huma$ a$d a de$ial o! the bare mi$imum sta$dard o! livi$g !or the *or6er%
mmediate Needs of !a"our #ovement
/ have bee$ as6ed by several pressme$ a$d others to i$dicate *hat the immediate $eeds a$d pla$s o!
the Labour #oveme$t o$ the Gold )oast are, a$d / *ish brie!ly to describe these:
,% / believe that our direct a$d !oremost $eed is the immediate setti$g up o! a 'ages 0oard *hich
must have o$e o! the *or6ers amo$g itN members% &his 0oard *ill eami$e a$d !i mi$imum
sta$dard *ages !or all classes o! *or6ers< it must also have the po*er to e$!orce its decisio$s< be!ore
this 0oard all matters a!!ecti$g the *ages o! the *or6ers must be thrashed out, as *ell as social
i$sura$ce, health a$d old5age pe$sio$ schemes%
?% /t is $ecessary !or all u$io$s o$ the Gold )oast to be u$ited i$to the Gold )oast &rade ($io$
)o$gress% &he supreme importa$ce o! this )o$gress ca$$ot be over5emphasised% ($less the various
u$io$s act u$ited it is di!!icult, i! $ot impossible, to have e!!icie$t labour orga$isatio$ a$d to prese$t
a commo$ !ro$t i$ the struggle !or social security% &his must lead to the idea o! the !ormatio$ o! the
'est A!rica$ Federatio$ o! Labour, *hich *ill co$sist o! the $atio$al Labour #oveme$ts o! Nigeria,
the Gold )oast, Sierra Leo$e, a$d the Gambia% &he !ormatio$ o! this bloc6 is esse$tial to the idea o!
the &rade ($io$ /$ter$atio$al *hich has bee$ discussed at the 'orld &rade ($io$ )o$!ere$ce i$
Lo$do$%
A% Orga$ised labour must be represe$ted o$ the Legislative )ou$cil o! the Gold )oast% &his labour
seat must be !illed by a perso$ to be elected by the *or6ers themselves% / believe this *ill ma6e !or
practical co5operatio$ a$d better u$dersta$di$g bet*ee$ the Gover$me$t a$d labour%
.% / should li6e to see a comprehe$sive buildi$g scheme to accommodate the *or6i$g classes< the
cou$try o*es a lot to these *or6ers a$d she should be i$ a positio$ $o* to provide dece$t a$d
spacious buildi$gs !or them% /t ought to be possible !or the *or6ers to buy these houses o$ the hire5
purchase system%
5% / am o! the opi$io$ that the u$io$ should select t*o !ull5time o!!icials *ho, a!ter a prelimi$ary
trai$i$g o$ the )oast by the Labour O!!icers, should spe$d at least si mo$ths i$ 0ritai$, *here they
*ill see 0ritish labour orga$isatio$s at *or6% &his eperie$ce, / co$te$d, *ill be etremely valuable%
Already by the courtesy o! the 0ritish &%(%)%, "us6i$ )ollege, O!ord, gives a correspo$de$ce
course i$ &rade ($io$ sub@ects to t*o members o! the Gold )oast "ail*ay ($io$, a$d / 6$o* ho*
very use!ul these lesso$s have bee$ to the members co$cer$ed%
&he$ also *e must call !or educatio$al !acilities to be made available to all childre$, a$d tech$ical
schools to be established to trai$ A!rica$ perso$$el to ta6e their right!ul places i$ the higher grades
o! labour% 9ve$i$g classes !or adults must be provided, a$d / am happy i$ the 6$o*ledge that the
"ail*ay ($io$ has !ormulated its o*$ pla$s to impleme$t this scheme< a begi$$i$g has already bee$
made at Se6o$di, the head8uarters o! the u$io$%
Lastly, ade8uate !aculties should be provided to sa!eguard the health o! the *or6ers, a$d / believe it
is time that Factory Ordi$a$ces *ere i$troduced i$to the Gold )oast% &he u$io$ must be stead!ast
a$d persiste$t i$ securi$g !or its members such reaso$able ame$ities as *or6ers3 ca$tee$s, brea65
times !or meals, shorte$i$g o! *or6i$g hours, higher *ages, etc%, all o! *hich are so vital% / 6$o* *e
are $ot alo$e i$ the struggle !or social security< *e have the sympathy a$d at least the moral support
o! orga$ised labour throughout the *orld, more especially o! the 0ritish moveme$t *hich, *ith its
vast eperie$ce, must rally to the aid o! a !ello* u$io$ i$ a @ust a$d !air cause%

1/( -istor$ of the Trade Union )o0e'ent in #ritish %uiana
0y -ubert Critchlo!
&he bac6grou$d o! the trade u$io$ i$ 0ritish Guia$a comme$ces as !ar bac6 as ,-=5% Our *or6i$gs
hours *ere lo$g, the system o! a 8uarter5day eisted, a$d $o overtime !or $ight *or6% 'e as6ed the
employers to cha$ge these co$ditio$s a$d the reply *as that *e must ta6e them or go% / orga$ised a
stri6e o$ the *ater5!ro$t i$ 4ecember, ,-=5% Our claims *ere !or a decrease o! *or6i$g hours, a$
i$crease, o! pay, *hich *as very lo* Btruc6ers 2 called boys although adult me$ 2 t*o shilli$gs a
day, a$d could scarcely get a *hole day3s *or6, ta6i$g cargo !rom the ship to the bar$C% 4oc6ers
loaded o$ to the ship% /$ those days *e had a stevedore i$ charge o! stori$g the ships% +e stored by
the to$ a$d paid by the day, a$d up to eleve$ o3cloc6 the same $ight the me$ could $ot get paid% /$
,-=5 *he$ *e pitched, *e dema$ded the abolitio$ o! the stevedore% &he !irm mostly paid *he$ the
ship *as stored% &he reaso$ !or the 8uarter5day *as that the !irm $eed $ot hire a ma$ !or a *hole
day, a$d @ust paid him !or the 8uarter5day% Stevedores got 8= ce$ts a day%
&here *as $o trade u$io$, a$d the employers re!used% So / got the *or6i$g me$ a$d boys together,
a$d they agreed that *he$ there *ere si boats i$ the harbour they must stri6e% &hey struc6% A great
thi$g, a$d at that time / did $ot 6$o* that all the estates i$ the cou$try !ollo*ed us a$d struc6 o$
accou$t o! lo* *ages% At a particular estate, the "uimveldt estate, they shot at the people as they
came do*$ to the to*$% No*, ho* did / come to have a$y i$!lue$ce *ith the *or6ers a$d be able to
get them togetherG 'ell, as a boy / *as a$ athlete, a$d so / *as 6$o*$ to the people, a$d *he$ / le!t
school / *a$ted to get a @ob *here / *ould be able to get time to 6eep o$ *ith my athletics% / *e$t to
a !ou$dry to lear$ e$gi$eeri$g% 0ut / le!t there a$d *e$t to my u$cle, *ho *as ma$ager o! a cigar
!actory, *hich *as *orse% Seei$g me o$ the *har!, #r% #ac6ey, *ho *as the ma$ager, got me a$
all5rou$d @ob% 0ut the hours *ere lo$g a$d / bega$ to *a$t to 6$o* *hy *e, *ho *or6ed hardest,
could $ot 6$oc6 o!! at !our o3cloc6, li6e the 9uropea$s% 0ecause / *a$ted to get to my cric6et a$d
ru$$i$g% &he 9uropea$s 6$e* me a$d li6ed me, because / *as a popular !igure, a$d the people
bega$ to liste$ to me%
0ut to get bac6 to the stri6e% &hey *ere shooti$g the people comi$g do*$ !rom the estate% At the
$e*s o! the shooti$g, the *ome$ started a riot% &he magistrate ordered the *ome$3s hair to be cut
o!!% &hey :catted; the me$ a$d se$t them to priso$% /, too, *as arrested, but there *as disagreeme$t
bet*ee$ the 9uropea$ people, because / played cric6et a$d they thought / *as too 8uiet a$d dece$t
a$d *ould $ot i$ter!ere *ith this thi$g% Some said / should $ot be charged, a$d some said / should%
+o*ever, / *as $ot%
/$ 4ecember, ,-=>, a year to a day, they *ere sayi$g that because o! the :catti$g; a$d impriso$me$t
*e *ould $ot stri6e agai$, but there *as a$other brea65out% &o 8uiet this brea65out 8uic6ly a$d to
!righte$ the people, the police brought *har! rats a$d e5co$victs to brea6 the stri6e% / heard that i!
the people remai$ed o$ stri6e !or three hours they *ould get the i$crease% /t sho*ed that shooti$g
a$d impriso$me$t could $ot settle the disturba$ce% &he $e* stri6e happe$ed because the old
grieva$ces *ere $ot settled% / *as @ust about ?= the$% / *as arrested a$d charged be!ore #agistrate
+asti$g, but the case *as dismissed% 'e got $othi$g, co$ditio$s *ere $ot cha$ged%
/$ ,-,. the *ar bro6e out% /$ ,-,> prices i$creased% / said to the !ello*s, :'e ca$3t bear this thi$g
a$y more% /t is impossible to !eed a$ybody o$ t*o shilli$gs a day% 'e must stri6e agai$< *e ca$ o$ly
bri$g pressure to bear%; 0ut / had more se$se the$% :4o$3t !ight,; / said% :Let me $egotiate%; / *e$t
to a la*yer to get a$ applicatio$ made out !or certai$ co$ditio$s a$d se$t this applicatio$ to the
)hamber o! )ommerce% &he la*yer had said that / should get a sipe$$y levy !rom all the people
*ho sig$ed the petitio$% 'he$ / approached them they declared it *as !oolish a$d they *ould o$ly
get shot up agai$% 0ut / told them *e must try o$ce more%
A good Gover$or, Sir 'il!red )ollet, arrived bet*ee$ ,-,> a$d ,-,K% / ma$aged to see him a$d told
him about co$ditio$s% +e as6ed i! / had se$t our dema$ds to the )hamber o! )ommerce% / told him
*e had a$d that they had do$e $othi$g about them% &he Gover$or told the )hamber o! )ommerce to
meet us to $egotiate% A$d i$ 4ecember, ,-,K, they decided to give us a$ i$crease comme$ci$g !rom
7a$uary ,st, ,-,8% &he 8uarter5day *as abolished< *e secured a mi$imum o! $ot less tha$ hal! a
day3s pay !or eve$ o$ly o$e hour3s *or6 i$ the mor$i$g% &he *age i$crease *as ,= per ce$t, but
prices *e$t up a$d three mo$ths later, i$ #arch, ,-,8, *e *e$t o$ stri6e agai$% &he people sa* the
use!ul$ess o! getti$g together%
/$ 4ecember ,-,8, *e as6ed !or the eight5hour day% &he ma$ager o! my !irm the$, *as #r%
Sherloc6, *ho *as preside$t o! the )hamber o! )ommerce% &he !irm *as 0oo6er 0ros%, #c)o$$ell
a$d )o%, the biggest shippi$g age$ts, part o! &ate a$d Lyle% &here *as $o u$io$, but *e *or6ers met
i$ the bar$ *here / *or6ed, a$d #r% Sherloc6 came do*$ to the bar$ door% +e declared that it *as
o$ly a !e* mo$ths be!ore that *e had got a$ i$crease a$d $o* *e *ere as6i$g !or a$other, a$d a$
eight5hour day% +e gave us a day either to *ithdra* our applicatio$ or to 6$oc6 o!!% 'e *ithdre*% /
mysel! *as blac6listed% / tried to get a$other @ob, but $obody *ould give me *or6% Stri6e5brea6ers
!rom 0arbados a$d &ri$idad *ere brought i$ to u$load the ships% &hey *ere told that there *as a$
epidemic a$d that the stevedores could $ot *or6 the ships% &here had bee$ a$ epidemic, but it *as
over%
/ called these people together a$d told them *hat had happe$ed, a$d as6ed them $ot to blac6leg% Our
people bega$ to get veed *ith me as though / *ere to blame !or their $ot getti$g *or6, a$d *ere
begi$$i$g to tur$ agai$st me% / the$ pla$$ed a demo$stratio$% A deputatio$ o! t*o or three o! us *e$t
to see the Gover$or% +e told us to start a trade u$io$, charge a$ e$tra$ce !ee a$d get the help o! the
u$io$s i$ 9$gla$d% /t *as a very good idea% #asses o! people *ere *aiti$g outside to hear the
results, a$d *he$ / told them, hu$dreds o! people paid a$ e$tra$ce !ee o$ the spot, a$d the 0ritish
Guia$a &rade ($io$ *as started% /t had ta6e$ ,. years% #e$ o$ the *ater!ro$t, the carpe$ters, shop
assista$ts a$d others, seei$g that they could gai$ by it, bega$ to @oi$ the u$io$%
O$ April 5th, ,-,-, / called a mass meeti$g !or the eight5hour day, / *as arrested because / gave out
a ha$dbill *ith a verse !rom the )arseillaise, a$d *as charged *ith seditio$% &he prosecutor said it
*ould have bee$ all right i! / had 8uoted the *hole thi$g, but / had chose$ t*o li$es *hich *ere a
call to arms% +o*ever, the Gover$or i$terve$ed a$d the charge *as dropped% &he$ / as6ed !or a
!urther i$crease to t*o dollars%
0et*ee$ the$ a$d 7a$uary ,st, ,-?=, *e gathered ,A,=== members a$d 5-,K== i$ the ba$6% About
this time rumours bega$ to spread% People said that / *as a$ u$educated ma$ a$d that this thi$g *as
too big !or me% /t *as suggested that / should bri$g i$ some o! the pro!essio$al me$, la*yers,
doctors, clergy, a$d !orm a *ider committee, *ith district orga$isers *ho *ould get OA5 a mo$th,
travelli$g epe$ses, etc% &hey came i$ a$d started to educate% &hey said that $o blac6 ma$ could
carry o$ a$ythi$g i$ 0ritish Guia$a !or more tha$ si mo$ths% 0ut bet*ee$ ,-,- a$d ,-A= / roped i$
$early the *hole cou$try, every estate, a$d / had to travel $ight a$d day to 6eep touch%
/$ 7u$e, ,-,-, / became a !ull5time orga$iser at O?= a mo$th% &he u$io$ *a$ted me to get i$to the
court, but to become a member o! our )ombi$ed )ourt B,-?=C you had to have property to the
amou$t o! O5,=== or a$ i$come 8uali!icatio$ o! O,,..= a year BO,?= a mo$thC% /$ order to get me i$to
this category they i$creased my salary to the re8uired amou$t, to e$able me to sta$d%
/$ ,-?= *e *a$ted to raise OA,=== to start a co5operative compa$y, but be!ore *e could get the
shares the people i$sisted *e should start the busi$ess% 'e bega$ by getti$g credit *ith a Portuguese,
a$d thi$gs loo6ed to be goi$g *ell% A peasa$t !armer !rom o$e o! the districts came to me a$d
o!!ered 5== bags o! rice at O8 a bag, sayi$g that i$ three *ee6s3 time *e *ould get O,A !or it% &he
directors agreed% 'e bought the rice a$d 6ept it% 0ut shortly a!ter, the Gover$or !ied the retail price
o! rice at OK a bag a$d *e lost o$e dollar o$ every bag% 0ut it le!t me *ith the idea that i$ the i$terest
o! the *or6ers *e must get co$trols%
A!ter ,-?, the slump came, a$d they started to reduce *ages a$d employ stri6e5brea6ers% A!ter a
certai$ amou$t o! correspo$de$ce a$d e$8uiry, our u$io$ *as registered i$ ,-??, the !irst i$ the
)olo$ial *orldH 0ut *ages co$ti$ued to !all, a$d it bro6e the bac6s o! some o! the *or6ers%
&hey *ere reduced agai$ i$ ,-?.% 'or6 *as scarce% &he u$io$ had O5 a$d .? !i$a$cial members%
&he result *as that a little later the people !ormed the Negro Progress )o$ve$tio$, the #arcus
Garvey Associatio$% &hat same year *e as6ed the Gover$me$t to !i$d *or6 !or the people,
dema$di$g *or6 or mai$te$a$ce% 'he$ *e *rote to the Gover$or, Sir Graham &hompso$, as6i$g
him to ope$ up u$employed *or6, he said *e must go to the estates< but the estates could$3t !i$d
su!!icie$t *or6 !or the labour they already had% / threate$ed a ge$eral stri6e% &he mercha$ts
threate$ed a reductio$ i$ our *ages% &hey had reduced i$ ,-?=, ,-?,, ,-??, a$d $o* i$ ,-?. they
threate$ed a reductio$ to sity ce$ts a dayH
/ pla$$ed a demo$stratio$, as a result o! *hich the *hole )olo$y *e$t o$ stri6e% &hi$gs *ere so bad
that the Gover$or called the )hamber o! )ommerce to meet him a$d see *hat could be do$e% &here
*ere riots a$d shooti$gs% &he Gover$or arra$ged !or me to meet the )hamber o! )ommerce, a$d
eve$ *hile the co$!ere$ce *as goi$g o$ some o! the cou$try people *ho *ere comi$g i$to the to*$
*ere bei$g shot% &he co$!ere$ce *as ad@our$ed a$d a$ advisory committee *as appoi$ted to e$8uire
i$to the *hole 8uestio$%
&he *or6ers o$ the *ater!ro$t *ere getti$g o$ly eighty ce$ts a day, a$d they could o$ly get t*o
days3 *or6 a *ee6% At the same time the ordi$ary epe$ses o! a ma$ *ithout !amily or *i!e *as O,5%
&hey as6ed ho* they *ere supposed to live%
/ came to 9$gla$d !or the !irst 0ritish )ommo$*ealth )o$!ere$ce i$ ,-?., but it *as postpo$ed
u$til ,-?5% +o*ever, they heard *hat / had to say a$d my dema$ds *ere pri$ted i$ the 0ritish
)ommo$*ealth 0oo6% / also *e$t to the ,-A= )o$!ere$ce, a$d repeated my dema$ds !or reductio$
o! hours, !or i$sura$ce, old5age pe$sio$s, $atio$al health i$sura$ce, etc% / *e$t o$ to Germa$y at the
e$d o! 4ecember, ,-A,, !or the co$!ere$ce o! the /$ter$atio$al )ommittee o! &rade ($io$ 'or6ers,
a$d visited "ussia i$ ,-A?%
"etur$i$g to 0ritish Guia$a, / started to carry o$ u$employme$t demo$stratio$s% 'e put up a $otice
sayi$g, :No *or6, $o re$t%; / *as $o* regarded as a serious agitator a$d o$e o! the most *ic6ed
me$ i$ the cou$try% &hey barred me !rom my o*$ birthplace o! 'ismore%
About this time the di!!ere$t u$io$s bega$ to !orm the 'or6ers3 League, *hile the 9ast /$dia$s
established the )itiEe$s3 ($io$% &here *ere ?8 other registered u$io$s, a$d *e got together to !orm
our &rades ($io$ )ou$cil% 'e pressed the Gover$or to i$troduce a re$t restrictio$ Act% 'or6 *as
!ou$d !or us, a$d they gave us rice, salt, !ish, bread% &he schoolchildre$ got !ree meal tic6ets% &hat
*as i$ ,-AA%
0ecause o! suggestio$s / *as co$sta$tly o!!eri$g o$ the 8uestio$ o! providi$g, *or6 !or the
u$employed, they put me o$ a$ ($employme$t )ommittee, a$d si$ce ,-A. / have bee$ a $omi$ated
member o! the Legislative a$d 9ecutive )ou$cil% / *as the !irst labour member, o$e out o! the !ive
the Gover$or *as e$titled to $omi$ate% Si$ce the $omi$ated members have bee$ i$creased to K,
labour has bee$ give$ a$other t*o represe$tatives, ma6i$g three altogether%
12( -istor$ of the *a'aica Labour )o0e'ent
0y a$ Observer
&he &rade ($io$ #oveme$t i$ 7amaica is, u$!ortu$ately, divided% Apart !rom the u$io$s a!!iliated to
the &rades ($io$ )ou$cil, there are a $umber o! so5called u$io$s o!!icially registered as
:0ustama$te /$dustrial &rade ($io$%; &hese latter are u$der the absolute domi$atio$ o! the greatest
demagogue i$ the isla$d, Alea$der 0ustama$te, a$d have $o democratic structure% &hey hold $o
a$$ual co$!ere$ce, issue $o !i$a$cial stateme$ts, a$d all their o!!icers are appoi$ted a$d dismissed
by #r% 0ustama$te, *ho has made himsel! preside$t !or li!e o! each o! the u$io$s he co$trols%
0ustama$te re*ards himsel! !or his labours by allotti$g himsel! a$ a$$ual salary o! F?,=== !rom the
u$io$s3 !u$ds% &his is three times as much as Sir 'alter )itri$e3s salary as Secretary o! the 0ritish
&rades ($io$ )o$gress, *hich has a membership o! 5,===,=== *or6ers, @ust about a hu$dred times
that o! 0ustama$te3s o*$ u$io$s%
Record of $overnment Workers Unions
&o cou$ter 0ustama$te3s a$ti5democratic policy a$d high5ha$ded methods, t*o previous o!!icials o!
0ustama$te3s u$io$, De$ +ill a$d Arthur +e$ry, bega$ to !orm u$io$s o! the Gover$me$t *or6ers
early i$ ,-.?% &hey had le!t 0ustama$te i$ ,-A- because he ig$ored i$dividual complai$ts o!
members a$d because they *ere disgusted *ith the *ay i$ *hich he ra$ the u$io$%
+ill a$d +e$ry *ere helped i$ their *or6 by "ichard +art, F% A% Glasspole a$d Fra$6 +ill, all o!
*hom had bee$ active *or6ers !or labour si$ce ,-AK%
&he tas6 that these !ive you$g me$ too6 o$ *as $ot a$ easy o$e% &he Gover$me$t *or6ers had $ever
bee$ ope$ly orga$ised be!ore, a$d *he$ they started their u$io$s, the Gover$me$t too6 alarm a$d
tried to brea6 them up%
Workers %tand %olid
&his o$ly made the *or6ers more resolute, a$d the Gover$me$t passed a la* ma6i$g the u$io$s
illegal% De$ +ill, Fra$6 +ill, Arthur +e$ry a$d "ichard +art *ere arrested a$d put i$ the dete$tio$
camp, as the Gover$me$t thought this *ould brea6 the spirit o! the *or6ers a$d that they *ould give
up the u$io$s%
&his *as $ot *hat happe$ed, ho*ever% 'hat i$ !act did happe$ *as @ust the opposite% &he *or6ers
came together more solidly tha$ ever% &hey strove to remai$ !aith!ul to their leaders *ho *ere i$
priso$% 'he$ Gover$me$t sa* this, it *as !orced to alter the la* agai$st the u$io$s, a$d so the
*or6ers *o$ bac6 their !reedom to orga$ise% A!ter !our a$d a hal! mo$ths, the Gover$me$t *as also
!orced to release the *or6ers3 leaders%
'hat caused the Gover$me$t to cha$ge its tu$eG First, it *as the !act that the Gover$me$t *or6ers
sho*ed that they *ere *illi$g to !ight !or their rights< a$d seco$d, it *as the great help *hich the
*or6ers got !rom the People3s Natio$al Party% &he t*o great leaders o! this party, N% '% #a$ley a$d
N% N% Nethersole, *or6ed volu$tarily a$d *ithout payme$t $ight a$d day !or the u$io$s, provi$g
beyo$d doubt their si$cere attachme$t to the *or6i$g class o! 7amaica%
&'()*))) ncrease in Wages Per +ear
As soo$ as the leaders o! the Gover$me$t *or6ers *ere released !rom dete$tio$ i$ April, ,-.A, the
big !ight !or the improveme$t o! the *or6ers3 co$ditio$s bega$% &he Gover$me$t set up a "e5
gradi$g )ommittee early i$ ,-.A% 0y 4ecember o! the same year, F.?=,=== *as paid i$ *age
i$creases to the *or6ers%
&his *as a great victory !or the u$io$s% &o u$dersta$d the real siEe o! the victory, it must be bor$e i$
mi$d that the )ommittee *hich re5graded civil serva$ts too6 !our years to do the @ob, *hile the "e5
gradi$g )ommittee !or Gover$me$t *or6ers got through its tas6 i$ less tha$ $i$e mo$ths%
+o* did this happe$G /t happe$ed because the Gover$me$t *or6ers *ere solidly u$ited i$ their o*$
trade u$io$s a$d *ere all @oi$ed together i$ their Federatio$ o! Gover$me$t 9mployees3
Orga$isatio$s, *hich *as !ormed i$ October, ,-.A% &he *or6ers got their i$creases so 8uic6ly
because they *ere brave e$ough to stage a three5day stri6e i$ November, ,-.A%
,ustamante* %trike ,reaker
/t *as duri$g this November stri6e that 0ustama$te sho*ed ho* much he really cared !or the
*or6i$g people o! 7amaica% O$ the seco$d day o! the stri6e he tried to get stri6e5brea6ers to go i$
a$d ta6e the me$3s @obs% 0ustama$te *as o$ly de!eated by the 8uic6 actio$ *hich the u$io$s too6 to
upset his scheme%
&he stri6e *as staged to get the Gover$me$t3s promise that the *age i$creases *ould be paid be!ore
)hristmas, a$d it *as success!ul% &he *ee6 be!ore )hristmas, F.?=,=== *as paid out to Gover$me$t
*or6ers% "elie! *or6ers *ere le!t out, a$d their u$io$, supported by the Federatio$, bega$ at o$ce to
dema$d i$creases !or these ,,,=== *or6ers% &he Gover$me$t set up a committee to i$vestigate their
co$ditio$s% At the e$d o! #arch, ,-.., it agreed to give relie! *or6ers a small i$crease o! 8%,?5
perce$t%
%tandard Rates for Relief Workers
&his *as $ot satis!actory, either to the *or6ers or the u$io$< but at least it *as a small adva$ce, a$d
the *or6ers accepted it as such *hile the u$io$ co$ti$ued to !ight !or sta$dard rates !or all relie!
*or6ers% &he !ight is still goi$g o$ a$d is bei$g led by De$ +ill, *ho has ta6e$ the matter to the
Secretary o! State !or )olo$ies i$ Lo$do$%
Gover$me$t *or6ers also be$e!ited !rom a $e* committee *hich the Gover$me$t set up to correct
the mista6es *hich had bee$ made by the "e5gradi$g )ommittee, *hose *or6 had bee$ improperly
do$e% Last September, a!ter correctio$ o! errors, the Legislative )ou$cil passed a !urther F?.,8=5 !or
Gover$me$t *or6ers, *hich i$cluded a *ar bo$us%
-ther %uccesses
#ea$time the Gover$me$t 'or6ers3 ($io$ have bee$ putti$g up a stro$g !ight !or other
improveme$ts% &hey have dema$ded a$ 85hour *or6i$g day !or all *or6ers i$ Gover$me$t service%
&his dema$d has bee$ dealt *ith by a committee set up by the Gover$me$t, *hose report #r% F% A%
Glasspole moved i$ the +ouse should be immediately adopted% &his proposal *as re!used by
Alea$der 0ustama$te u$less the *ord :immediate; *as deleted% So !ar $o actio$ has bee$ ta6e$ o$
the report%
&he Postal a$d &elegraph 'or6ers3 ($io$ gai$ed a great victory i$ ,-.. *he$ it secured a$ 85hour
*or6i$g day !or district post o!!ice sta!!s%
/$ November, ,-.A, the Public 'or6s 4epartme$t ($io$ secured big i$creases o! pay !or asphalt
*or6ers i$ o$e district B+al!*ay &reeC, *ho had received %$o i$creases si$ce ,-A-% Lorry sideme$ i$
a$other district BSt% A$dre*sC received i$creases a$d bac6 pay !rom April ,, ,-..% Female labourers
a$d plumbers3 assista$ts also got ,. per ce$t i$creases i$ their pay%
&he ($io$s o! Gover$me$t employees *hich are a!!iliated to the 7amaica &rade ($io$ )ou$cil
B!ormed ,-A-C are:
%ublic Wor#s *'plo&ees+ Union: "eprese$ts all P%'%4% *or6ers o$ roads a$d at P%'%4% statio$s i$
the /sla$d% Preside$t: Fra$6 +ill%
,a'aica -o.ern'ent Rail(a& *'plo&ees+ Union: "eprese$ts all rail*ay *or6ers% Preside$t: "ichard
+art%
Relief Wor#ers+ Union: "eprese$ts ,,,=== relie! *or6ers i$ Di$gsto$ a$d the parishes a$d $egotiates
*ith Gover$me$t o$ their behal!% Preside$t: +% O% A% 4ayes%
%ostal and Telegraph Wor#ers+ Union: "eprese$ts all postmistresses, telegraph cler6s, postme$, a$d
other Post O!!ice *or6ers% Preside$t: N% N% Nethersole%
Gover$me$t Pri$ti$g O!!ice 9mployees3 ($io$: "eprese$ts every *or6er at the Pri$ti$g O!!ice%
Preside$t: N% N% Nethersole%
-o.ern'ent $u/iliar& Wor#ers+ Union: "eprese$ts reve$ue ru$$ers, customs guards, harbour
master3s sta!!, messe$gers, couriers, etc%, *hose $umbers are too small !or separate u$io$s%
Preside$t: De$ +ill%
Legal $d.iser to all the Unions: N% '% #a$ley, 0%A%, 0%)%L%, LL%0%, D%), Leader o! the People3s
Natio$al Party%
Distri"ution of .arnings
Follo*i$g are !igures o! the distributio$ o! ear$i$gs i$ 7amaica give$ i$ a rece$tly issued )e$sus
O!!ice Press 0ulleti$:
&here are ?8A,.A- *age ear$ers i$ 7amaica% ,-.,.58 are perma$e$tly employed% &he rest, 88,-8,,
are o$ly casually employed%
5.,-.K o! the perma$e$tly employed ear$ u$der >s% per *ee6% #ost o! these are *ome$ Bdomestic
serva$tsC *ho total A.,,.5%
.>,58A o! the perma$e$tly employed ear$ bet*ee$ >s% a$d ,=s% per *ee6< .-, -5? ear$ bet*ee$ ,=s%
a$d ?=s% per *ee6< ?.,=?8 ear$ bet*ee$ ?=s% a$d .=s% per *ee6< -,,,= ear$ bet*ee$ .=s% a$d >=s%
per *ee6< .,=>A ear$ bet*ee$ FA a$d F. per *ee6< ,,-8= ear$ !rom F. to F5 per *ee6< ?,,58 ear$
!rom F5 to FK ,=s% per *ee6< K55 ear$ !rom FK ,=s% to F,= per *ee6< 5K- ear$ !rom F,= to F,5 per
*ee6< ,K. ear$ !rom F,5 to F?= per *ee6< ,?- ear$ F?= per *ee6 a$d over%