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Political Notes By F. W. Jdwett, M.P. I ITALIAN SCHEME. So reeentlv as the 30th of May last Lord Ro- lbert Cecil acknowledged in reply to a Parlia- mentary question that the Ti-eaty of April 26, 1915, concluded with Italy—one of the treaties between the Allies which involve extensive an- nexations regardless of the wishes of the inhabi- tants of the countries it is proposed to annex- has not been modified or superseded. One fif the objects, therefore, for which British soldiers are still fighting, suffering and dying, is to make the Adriatic Sea into a sort of Italian lake in furtherance of Italian Schemes for stra- tegic and imperialist expansion. MEETING THE GERMANS. France having taken tlim initiative m -nego- tiating with Germany for an exchange of pri- soners of war 'the British Government has been compelled to follow suit. The Home Secretary (Sir George Cave), Lord Newton, and a military representative have been appointed to meet three representatives of Germany in a neutral country to arrange for the exchange of German and British prisoners. It its a. most remarkable ia(1) that, the news-papers which are bitterly op- posed to any suggestion of meeting Germans for the purpose of settling other matters in dis- pute have been the severest critics of the Gov- ernment for -not having met Germans long ago to negotiate an exchange of prisoners. The newspapers in question are never tired of say- ing that it is madness to expect Germany to ca-ri- out an agreement and yet there is no sort of agreement so likely to be broken whilst najr is in progress as an agreement to keep re- leased prisoners in civil life. A very distin- guished soldier, an officer of high rank, said to me the other day tha.t it was impossible to pre- vent^ released prisoners being put into the army again. Germany will use her released pri- soners again," he said, or at all events we shall say they- are doing, and we shall respond oy using ours again, or at all events tlie Ger- mall" will say that we are." He was opposed to exchanging prisoners because in his opinion the only result will be to increase the fighting stivngth of both sides and prolong the war. Personally, 1 do not agree with this view, but, in any case. there is no valid reason for re J using to meet German representatives for the purpose of corning to agreement on other issues which does not also apply to an agreement in regard to the release and subsequent use of prisoners. MR. BARNES CENSORED. Two members of the War Cabinet have made speeches dealing with the war recently, passages yft; irliivli liafc- been dropped out of the press re- ports. It is admitted that the press censor took, action in regard to one of the speeches. It was a speech b\ Mr. Barnes that was censored by the official Censor. I do not know what was de- leted by the Censor, but in the speech as re- ported Mr. Barnes seems to have made it a mat- ter of complaint against the enemy that the German Army had struck against a weak part of the line held by the Allies in France. ft I could hardly be expected, however, that the enemy would seek out the strongest part of the line held by the Allies and give due notice of an intended attack. It was the business of the General in command of the Allied Forces to I guard ngainst a surprise attack on a weak pa-rx of his front. SMUTS' INDISCRETION. General Smuts, the other member of the W a r Cabinet who is regarded as having spoken in- discreetly, was not. it appears, censored offi- cially, but the newspapers with one or two ex- ceptions omitted certain passages from the re- port,. of his speech. As, however, a full report of the speech was contained in the Glasgow Hi •raid is is possible to form an opinion on the passages of his speech that are considered, in- discreet. I will give one passage, of which the remainder of the missing passages are out ex- tensions in more detail. I do not think," said General Smuts, that an out-and-out victory is possible any more for any group of nations in this war because it will mean an interminable campaign." This is a view which might well link-e been expressed after the battle of the Marne. since when many millions of soldiers have died in vain if the view was then And is now well founded. At all events it is surely necessary that the nation should know that the member of the War Cabinet whose experience of war should give weight to his opinion has ex- pressed his belief that this war cannot be brought to an end by either side by means of a complete military victory. i DISGRACEFUL POSTERS. Mr. Bonar La". does not think it necessary or desirable that all illustrated posters issued by the War Aims Department should be exhibited in the House of Commons to enable members to judge whether it is justifiable to publish and exhibit them. This is not surprising, for some, of the posters are a positive disgrace to the INai- Aims Department. In this connection it is important the fact should be noted that the Labour Party some time ago decided it could no longer remain associated with the War Aim Department and share responsibility for its pub- lications. The present methods of carrying on the Government's war propaganda are further discredited as a result of a fact revealed in the course of the Pe^wberton Billing libel case. The statement .referred to is that the play which has obtained such unenviable notoriety, Salome," had been adopted for use in neutral countries for propaganda purposes. Even the Times," ready and willing as it is to circu- late German corpse factory and polygamy stories for war propaganda purposes, draws the line at including the play of "Salome" in the British war propaganda. "Whatever the qualities of the play Salome, observes the "Times" "and we judge only by the various accounts of it given in Court—it is surely intolerable that it should ever have been adopted for a moment as an instrument of British propaganda." PECULIAR ARGUMENTS. The increase to the sugai, duty imposed by the new Finance Bill has been defended by the Gov- ernment by some strange and weird arguments. Mr. Bonar Law, for instance, argues that since the subsidy on bread effects a saving for a family of five persons of £3 5s. a year, he is justified in increasing the cost of sugar to a family of five by the sum of £ 1 5s. 3d. He seems to have forgotten that the sole reason for the bread sulisidy was to relieve WJ'I,g'A of a small part of the enormous burden laid upon them by the general increase in the cost of living. The very fact that it has been neces- sary to subsidise the loaf. for this purpose de- stroys entirely the case for increasing the cost of sugar, which, like bread, is one of the chief necessaries of life. LABOUR DIVIDED. Another argument used by Bonar Law in de- fence of his sugar tax is that persons whose in- come amounts to more than ,£130 a year, but do not exceed £ 500 a year have been spared an addition to their income tax, and married men have been given a new abatement for their wives, which is worth £ 2 16s. 3d. a year to each of them. How this may be expected to relieve the additional hardship in a family liying on an income below the income tax limit, from which Mr. Bonar Law is going to take P-1 5s. 3d. a year extra for stig-at- duty is not explained. Six Labour Ministers stood by the Coalition and voted in Parliament in favour of. increased sugar duties, but ten unofficial members of the I.a honr Party voted against- the increase. ONE-SIDED CO-OPERATION. Strenuous efforts are being made by employers and a few trade union leaders to establish an Industrial League of emphoyers and workers un- der the patronage of the Government. The àó-I ject of the league is to try and prevent drastic changes in the present industrial system in con- sequence of the enormous liabilities incurred during the war. Conscription of wealth and the abolition or serious limitation of profiteering are what capitalists and the ruling class fear after the war, so what is being advocated by the Industrial League is that Labour should agree to produce more to enable the capitalist j system to carry on when the war is over. l, Aiiiicimble co-operation between employers and employees to speed up product-ion is the new stunt. This appeal for amicable co-opera- tion should be compared with the policy of the capitalist class during the three afid a-half years and more the war has been in progress. Patriotism has not weighed with the capitalist class during all this time. The Government, un- willing as it has been to take action, has be<Sm obliged to limit the opportunities of the capitai-? ist profiteers in every direction or their greed and rapacity would long ago have driven the people into revolt. After all the shameless ex- ploitation we have seen during the war the. workers are invited to join in "amicable co- operation" with capitalist profiteers to increase production to protect the profiteers against the possibility of having to disgorge their-ill-gotten gains! It would be co-operation such as exists between the horse and the horse leech when they are together.

I A. J. Cook. HOME OFFICE REFUSE REMISSION OF SENTENCE. At the monthly meeting of the Pontypridd and Rhondda District of Miners held. on Monday, the Agent (Mr. Ben Davies) reported that at the Executive Council meeting on Saturday a letter was read fr06 the Home Office declining to release Mr. Arthur J. Cook, who was re- eentlv sentenced to three months' imprisonment under the Defence of the Realm Act for making statements likely to cause disaffection. Mr. Davies also reported tha.t the Coal CSonti oiler had ordered the payment of the war wage at the Abercynon Colliery, and that the war wage question at the Sherwood Level, Llwynypia. had been sa tisfaoboirly settled.

I Unparliamentary Language. jCYNON COLLIERS GRANTED PERMISSION I TO TENDER NOTICES. ———— Mr. Wm. Jenkins (Miners' Agent) told the Avon Valley miners at their meeting at Port Talbot last Saturday that the aofction of the management at certain c-o-fliei-ies-ivhere the officials were indiscreet, relied upon small tech- nicalities, and placed their dignity before patrio- tism—caused much unpleasantness. It was reported that a workman had been dis- missed from the Cynon Colliery for using un- parliamentary language. The agent stated that he had made a strong appeal to the owners to reinstate this man, but without effect. The meeting unanimously decided to grant permis- sion to the men employed at this colliery to tender notices on account of the refusal to rein- state the man.<*

The Principles of Labour. I EXCELLENT RE-STATEMENT BY SIDNEY AND BEATRICE WEBB. I REVOLT AGAINST INEQUALITY OF CIRCUMSTANCES. The Labour Party has just issued a splendid series of propaganda leaner, the outstanding members of which are an interesting Jeaflet on "The New Constitution," by Sidney Webb, and a re-statement. of the Socialist principles upon which the Labour Party L-. builded by Sidney and Beatrice Webb. Froni the last we extract the opening and closing sel as being ad- mirable expressions of the ititli of every social democrat: — I REVOLT AGAINST INEQUALITY. We are in revolt against the present in- equality of circumstance—summed up in the fact that one-tenth of the population owns nine- tenths of the wealth, and two-tliirds of them, that is to say, the manual working-class, obtain, for all their needs only one-third of the produce of each year's work. We s<-e that this inequal- ity means, to the multitude who are poor, maimed faculties and thwai red desires, unneces- sary disease and premature death, and, in the worst cases, squalid bestiality and demoralisa- tion of body and soul. We know that it means to the minority who are rich, an extraordinary callousness, and a naive insolence, the more in- sidious in that is it unseif, onseious. whilst in the worst oases we have a, fantastic licentious- ness. We do not attribute this tragic di- vision of our race into the rich and poor to any exceptional cruelty or greed among those who happen to 4)e wealthy; nor to any exceptional j lack of capacity or industry among those who happen to be poor. We realise, what the econo-! mists have taught us, that this evil distribution of material resources is an inevitable result of the "Law of Rent" in a society based on the private ownership of land and capital. It can be remedied only by the vesting of land and capital in common ownership. But a mere trans- fer of land and capital to representatives of the community—whether elected by the consumer,, or by the producers of services or commodities—■ would not, in itself, bring about equality of circumstance. The nation would still have to decide how the annual aggregate of produce should be shared. .{) ,1, thai. in this matter, the community must deliberately "choose equality"; and it is this voluntary choice of equality that is one of the fundamental principles of the Labour Party. Exactly as it is bad manners for the members of a family or of a social club to grab at the best food, or push for the most comfortable seat, so it must be- come recognised as bad manrers for the indivi- dual citizen to insist on having, for his personal consumption, more than a. fair share of the na- tional income. And the duty of working for one's living must be reoognised with equal uni- versality. It will be held to be intolerable that any healthy adult should, under any pretext whatever—least of all merely on the plea that lie or s he is possessed of riches "—shirk the obligation of working regularly by hand or by brain in the common service. Alterations in the law of property will be, at once the sign and the sanction of the voluntary and deliberate choice of equality." FAITH IN INTERNATIONAL MORALITY. The Labour Party realises that its funda- mental principles are as applicable, in substance, to the relations between nations as to the rela- tions between the citizens of each nation. The doctrine that war is a. "biological necessity," beneficial to humanity, Socialists regard as at once demonstrably unscientific and profoundly immoral they believe that it is now possible to transcend the "struggle for life between races as it is between individuals, and to raise the JIIt- lations between States to a higher plane. Social- ists are in revolt against the inequality of cir- cumstance which enables one nation to exploit another and Ho deny to the members of any subject race the consciousness of consent and participation in power. They do not see, as be- tween the various races of humanity, that all the superiorities are heaped up on the peoples of any one blood, or colour, or religion, and all the inferiorities on those of others. On the con- trary, nearly every people baet something of its own in which it is superior even to the most conquering of raoes; and our proper attitude is that of a modest recognition of reciprocal su- periorities. Socialists affirm the right of each people to live out its own life. But this is only 7r"" e when the principle of the Brotherhood of Man is embodied in some sore of League of Nations or Supernational Authority, which shall maintain the rule of public right against all in- ternational aggression; and work out (and be perpetually improving) the necessary body of international regulations for the mutual inter- course of sovereign nations and their several citizens. Here, again, as within the nation or State, Law is the mother of Freedom,"

Rhondda S. W .M. F. Executive Representation. t SECOND BALLOT CLOSES CONTEST. The second ballot for four Rhondda represen- tatives on the S.W.M.F. Executive Committee has been declared, and a recommendation of the District Committee that the, four members top- ping the ballot. should be declared elected has been adopted, and these together with the Agent (Mr. Wm. John) and Sub-Agent (Mr. D. Lewis) will form the executive members for the area. The figures were:- Tom Smith, Penygraig 17,007 Noah Rees, Clydach Vale 14,926 Rees »M. Rees, Treherbert 13.862 Rees Evans, Treorehy 11,621 Jack Hughes, Llwynypia 11,134 Dan James, Yynshir 11.001 Matthew Banner, Ton Pentn. 9,254 George Dolling, YynsKir 9,233 W. H. Mainwaring, Clydach Vale 8,910

Socialists and Organisation. IS IT POSSIBLE TO CO-ORDINATE THE FORCES? AN INTERESTING LETTER THAT CALLS FOR DEBATE. The bitter experience of the last four years. The manner in which Labour and Socialist or- ganisations have faced the many difficult prob- lems brought before them. The present and fu- ture well being of the movement as a whole are the reasons why the following is written, with the hope that others whether they agree or dis- agree with the view expressed, wotild join in. a discussion of some, at least, of the points raised. During the last ten years and particularly the period of the war, there has been a marked de- velopment in ideas. To such an extent has this proceeded that the few, comparatively, who re- tain the old point of view are considered to be very tajne indeed. In the main an intellectual i evolution has taken place. A new conception of things, new tactics and new methods of at- taining the desired end. This has been and is reflected in the various organisations amongst us; the separate points being more or less fiercely discussed and contested. In the organi- sations which existed prior to this great change there is taking place a change of constitution and policy. Those who had been the first to gain the new point of view and had dropped out, together with otters who, dissatisfied with the scant recognition of the new philosophy within the organisation, became also dissatisfied have formed other organisations to carry on the new tactics and the new function. Others, again, have linked themselves up with various bodies that, however desira ble or com- mendable their objects, reflect, nevertheless, the point of view and ethics of the middle-class. The result is an altogether unnecesSiary nuni- 1 her of organisations and dividing of our forces. For general Socialist propaganda there are a number of parties. All of them now to a de- gree are in agreement as to the need of indus- trial as well as political propaganda. INDUSTRIAL PROPAGANDISTS. I For purely industrial propaganda there are again at least two parties. The Unofficial Re- form Movement, which may be described as ad- vocating the industrial unionist position, and the 0 uUü J — .ll_- tion of that position. In education again we have contending or- ganisations, and we may safely say that the workers of South Wales are. divided amongst each and all of these organisations more by ac- cident than design. That is to say, few of them have any real connection. Enthusiasm and fidelity to particular party principles are formed after and not before joining. It would be well to bear in mind that to be reactionary is more an attitude than an attribute of people who support certain dogmas or principles. By his attitude a member of an advanced Socialist or- ganisat,ion may be more reactionary than a member of a Conservative Association. It is the attitude or the manner in which he faces new ideas and principles irrespective of what kind of an organisation he is member of or what class in society he belongs to that makes a. man reactionary. While admitting and pointing out the existence of these divisions amongst us, and even going so far as to say it is too much to expect that they can altoget,her be wiped out, is it not reasonable to suggest that some of them can be wiped out. THE COMMON BASIS. I Why is it necessary to form new organisations for every new idea? More particularly when they are complementary and not in opposition one to the other. Is it not possible to unite some of these separat-e orga-nicat-ions and con- centrate our strength and conserve much of the wasted efforts of to-day? Ta<ke the three phases of the movement repre- sented by the organisations referred to: Politi- cal, Industrial, and Educational. It is not im- possible for them to be united in one and the same organisation. Indeed, it is highly probable that it would add to. the efficiency of the work of each department. The object of this letter is to initiate a discussion if possible to see how far a feeling exists in favour of some such policy as suggested here. It must, however, be clearly understood that the writer is definitely' opposed to all organisations that are not de finitely working-ciass in character. Socio.

Fantastic Generosity." I MERTHYR STIPENDIARY ATTACKS I GUARDIANS. Merthyr Stipendiary (Mr. R. A. Griffith) se- verely criticised the methods of the Board of Guardians on Tuesday when he was applied to on their behalf by Mr. Washington Bowen (so- licitor) for a maintenance order against a Peny- darren man, Bernard Colman. whose wife was in receipt of out-door relief from the Board. After hearing the application the Stipendiary said: If it pleases this Board of Guardians to be fantastically generous with public money that is their affair. I don't feel called upon to endorse their actions unless they seem to me reasonable. This woman is not entitled to our sympathy whatever. I am unabl e to see upon what grounds the guardians granted this relief. The woman appeared in this court and asked for a separation order on the ground of desertion. After several times adjourning the case and going fully into the affair I came to the con- clusion there was no desertion at all and refused to grant the order. In my opinion there is no obligation upon the husband (who stated he was prepared to find her a home) to support or con- tribute to support her unless she fulfils the part of wife to him. I find as a fact the husband has always been willing to maintain her (and is still willing) and there is no good cause for her not living with him. The summons was accordingly dismissed, and His worship intimated his preparedness, if necessary, to state a case('

I Mr. Walkden and the Railways. NOT CONFISCATION BUT PURCHASE NEEDED. 1£1,400 MILLIONS TO BE PAID BY DEATH DUTIES AND CAPITAL LEVIES. The second of the Research Department Con- ferences on State Control of Industry was held in the Fabian Hall, on Thursday, May 30th, Mr. A. G. Walkden, of the Railway Clerks' As- » sociation, being the principal „ speaker. Mr. Walkden described the process of taking-over at first for military and naval purposes only," which the railways had undergone at the begin- ning of the war, a process in which the share- holders were guaranteed their 1913 dividend. Government traffic being carried free. The rapid increase in all traffic, however, together with the saving gained oy unified working, had made it an excellent bargain for the Government. The effect. on Tra d e. U n i on i .,?,iii, effect on Trade Unionism, Mr. Walkden thought, had been better than that of private ownership, and the fear of drastic changes after the war bad led to a great increase in Trade Union mem- | bership. CHARGES AND WAGES. With regard to the position after the war, there were several important considerations. There seemed a general demand for the continu- ance of State control after the war on the part of people who had previously opposed it. This Mr. Walkden put down to two facts, first the impending bankruptcy of the companies after the war. owing to the way in which rolling stock had been worn out, and secondly the mili- tary reasons which had produced nationalisation of railways in continental countr ies, and migiht K. be expected to produce it here. There was aim the 47 million pounds now being paid as addi- tional war wage by the Government; if traffio charges were reduced again after the war it might be very difficult for the workers to retain their standard. NOT CONFISCATIO. Mr. Walk den's suggestion was not confisca- tion, which would-rouse public hos- tility. He proposed that all railway capital (1,400 millions, of which 200 millions was water- ed capital), should be immedia.tely taken over and made part of the National Debt. The pro- great ly accelerated, no surplus on railwayv<re- wa y r ceipts being allowed, and the capital should be paid off by a periodic capital levy and by death duties. The public must be induced to under- stand that the only path to cheap fares W:4S 'oy raising the death duties. Mr. Walkden held that this policy of nationalisation should apply to canals arid coasting traffic as well as to rail- ways. With regard to the place of the Trade Unions in control. Mr. Walkden favoured the establish- ment of a Minister of Railways, with three of his Commissioners appointed by hiiniself from a panel chosen by the Unions. An interesting discussion followed on ques- tions of the nationalisation and development of railways. The third conference of the series will be held on June 13th, at <3.15 p.m., at 25 Tothill- street, and will deal with State Control in Pro- ductive Industry. M». J. J. Mallon will be the principal speaker.

Anthracite Colliery Stoppage. REINSTATEMENT ENDS STRIKE OF 500 MEN. At a meeting of the Anthracite District at Swansea on Saturday the Agent (Mr. John James) reported on the Tirydail Colliery strike, affecting 500 men, and caused by the dismissal of one man. The miners, he said, had been asked not to take steps to spread the strike pend- ing the sitting of the Disputes Committee. During the sitting a telephonic message waa re- ceived stating that owing to the serious nature of the position and the nat,ional situation the man whose oase had involved the stoppage would be re-instated on Monday. This was accepted as satisfactory. A strike had also been engaged in for a week by the men at Rhoe Colliery, and the hope was entertained that similar influence would be brought to bear, so as to remove the difficulty, and ensure an early settlement.

By any Other Name. WORKERS' LEAGUE ALTERS ITS STYLE. The British Workers' League is changing its name to the National Democratic and Labour Party, but its function, we understand, ia to remain as it has ever been, a camouflage to catch the votes of simple workers who would nab vote for the Lloyd George party, for that party. Of course, the Workers' League under its new I styk will run counter to the official Labour (Party in ite task of "voicing the opinions and safeguarding the interests of Democracy in the widest sense." We are told that the new Party will contest 35 seats at the next election, in- cluding Aberdare, where the Party's champion Air. 0. B. Stanton will, we understand, be the nominee, and Pontypridd, the candidate for where has as yet not been anno-ti-need.. ,10 --—

Western Miners' Matters. At a meeting -of the Western Miners' Asso- ciation at Swansea-, presided over by Mr. W. F. Owen, a proposal supporting the appointment of a full-time colliery examiner was submitted, but failed to get sufficient support. The meeting agreed to a resolution instimctang the agent to 'bring before the Federation Executive the im- portance of negotiations with the coalownere tAt agree not to employ in future any men of mili- tary age, except bona-fide miners.