Appeal to Employers to Treat Workmen Fairly Tokio, Aug. 17.
In an. instruction circulated by Mr. Tokonami, Minister of the Interior, to all the prefectural Governors in connexion with the recent disputes in the Kuansai district, especially those in Kobe, the need is emphasized for mutual ce-operation between the capitalists and workmen.
The instruction adds that although the Government has adopted a _non-intervention policy toward the labour disputes in the Kuansai district, the Minister of the Interior finally ordered strict control over any unlawful movements on the part of the workmen, as acts of violence could not be overlooked.
"Though the labour disputes today are misled by the participation of some agitators, who are checking the real intention of the workmen, it cannot be said that the disputes are the result of the incitement of a small number. The capitalists should be urged to establish willingly some institutions to give the workmen comfort and prosperity.
"At the same time they should endeavour to understand the real intention and tendency of the workmen. On the other hand, the workmen should review the current financial condition, and realize their responsibility to maintain disciline and to refrain from submitting impracticable demands.
"The Minister is confident that mutual ce-operation between the capitalists and the workmen essential to the settlement of disputes. For this purpose all the suspicions and misunderstandings between both sides should be_removed by frank discussion."—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.