Apr. 8%
The March monthly leaflets of the International Federation of Trade Unions, which have Just arrived, contain an article on trade unions and the Far East, which coincides interestingly with the disclosures we printed on Monday of Communist propaganda among Chinese workers, Readers will recall that the LF.T.U,, whose headquarters are in Amsterdam ig definitely and drastically antagonistic to Communism; but it has to confess that the Communists hitherto have had far more success than it has had in the Far East. The explanation is to be sought in the fundamental difference of the principles on which trade unionism iand Communism are based.
'The LFW, (we read) can only hold fast' to the principle which has proved 0 trust-worthy Chroughout the whole of trade union history, and has indeed been the corner-stone of trade tinion success in all lands: the workers must keep a clear distinction Detween trade union and political action, for unless they do, they will never be able to build up useful and successful trade unto 'They will never be able to maintain continuity of action, but will over and over again be' drowned fathoms deep in the ebb and of political tides—dangers which fare doubly perilous in the Far Eas ances go—would seem no longer to belong to the Western World. In China, the Communists were at one time able to recruit—under al flag—no less than three millions of trade unionists, of whom, however, little enough is left to-day.
Rven in Japan, we are told, the workers' minds "have.-been confused by propaganda "and further poisoned by all manner of lying insinuations" against the Amsterdam institution, Great hopes are felt by the IF-T.U. that the Asiatic Labour Conference already planned by Japan will restore the balance and bring a better understandig. No date is mentioned for this conference, nor for the coming of the trade union delegation which the LF.T.WU. planning to send to the. Far East. But the article we have. been quoting concludes that' "there is no doubt that it will be one of the most important of the future tasks of the LF.T.U. to forge some link between the activities especially marked out for Asia and the work of the LF.TU." and it is to be inferred that vigorous propaganda is in contemplation, Whether the Chinese Government will give its benediction to these activities, is doubtful. To welcome M, Albert Thomas from Geneva, to fil up his time with official receptions and carefull aged inspections and to speed on his way with mutual compliments, But further pro-Paganda "in an already over goaded labour world is scarcely to be welcomed, it is no exaggeration to say that the aver~ age Chinese worker is still very far from being ready for trade unionism on Westera lines. The LF.T.U. tacitly admits this when it saya.that to understand and obey the principles of individual discipline and sacrifice called for by trade unionism, requires This definition of trade union aims reads curiously in contrast with the popular impression of them and with the actual experience of the political activities of trade unions in most countries in past years, But accepting this as the new gospel, there can be no question of the difference between it and the wholehearted political aims of the Communist and his efforts to substitute "the herd mind' for individual thought, It is in this respect especially that Communism has found success so easy in the Far East. The LE.T.U. dwells on the importance of always remembering the "definitely collective background" of Eastern culture Hence the simple Eastern worker, who is usually illiterate, will best understand those ideas which convey to, him, through his feel widespread corporate idea which has something in common with those conceptions which he, like-through his feelings, still retains as a survival of the almost universal spiritual teaching of the Eastern world. lies in his ability "to awaken those feelings of fellowship which are traceable to a deep innate affinity for such ideas". For the same xeason strikes are easily started among Indians, though " their weak reasoning faculty makes it difficult for them to know when to commence and when to break off a strike.
The suees of the Communist activities in the Fur East (says the IF-TU.) is duc to the preponderance they give, even in trade unionism, to political _interests (nationalism), to the feelings of the Eastern'than is the principle of free trade union organization,——based as this is on individual discipline—and, lastly, to the sense of kinship with the Russians, who—so far as appear cool and clear judgment—a quality which is rare among the great masses of Eastern population, which, indeed, cannot reasonably be expected from workers living] in wretched hovels on starvation wages.
'The Communists' success China, whatever it may be due to elsewhere in Asia, is, we believe, chiefly explained by their appeal to simple and understood feelings. Thu: the leaflets of which we gave an account yesterday, the workers are urged to "go to Sovi Russia" which is generally, painted as an earthly paradise where farmers and labourers enjoy delights unknown in other countries. Among the peasants upon whom the Communists have been concentrating since 1927, as we know by Moscow's special instructions, the appeal is to mere cupidity:' estates are broken up, boundary stones removed and everyone is supposed to share and share alike, the owners excepted. The LF.T.U.
li not of course agree, but the: first task is to root out the Red teaching which will not be done by introducing a new set of social nostrums, but by suppressing lawlessness, organizing finances and taxation and bringing peace and prosperity. The Chinese people are, by all agreement, the most easily governed in the world and, if protected against lawlessness and rapacity, they may be trusted to manage their own Tine with contentment and success, And they would be too, busy to have time to spare for propagandists.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.