Copenhagen Conference (Justice, 1910)

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The International Bureau has issued the final agenda for the International Congress at Copenhagen. The subjects, as agreed upon at the last meeting of the Bureau, are grouped under heads: (1) Relations between Co-operative Organisations and Political Parties; (2) Unemployment; (3) Arbitration and Disarmament; (4) International results of Labour Legislation; (5) International Protest against Capital Punishment; (6) Steps to ensure the Carrying Out of Resolutions of Congress; (7) Organisation of International Solidarity; (8) Resolutions on other Questions.

On the question of arbitration and disarmament the I.L.P. sends in a long report, giving the resolution of its last Conference, which contained an instruction to its N.A.C. to “summon a Conference of all Labour, Socialist, co-operative and friendly societies in Great Britain for the purpose of formulating the best means to be taken for arresting the growth of such expenditure on armaments and for rendering practically unworkable in advance the sinister designs of the war-mongers.” It adds “Since the passing of this resolution it has become known that The Labour Party has decided to call a Conference on the subject. The I.L.P. will, therefore, join in and do its best to make such a Conference a success.”

The resolution sent in by the S.D.P. on this subject recapitulates the findings of previous Congresses as follows;-

“That this Congress, recognising that war is a necessary consequence of the antagonisms inherent in the capitalist, competitive system, nevertheless views with alarm the immense and rapid development of armaments and war-like preparations in every capitalist country, and the consequent increasing menace that these armaments and other conditions present to the world’s peace.

“This Conference, therefore, while reaffirming the resolutions of previous International Socialist Congresses concerning the action of the Social Democracy against militarism, war and imperialism, calls upon the Socialists and the working class generally in every country to carryon with still greater vigour the campaign against aggressive imperialism, militarism and armaments.

“In opposition to imperialism, and in defence of the autonomy of every nationality, the workers of all countries should strenuously agitate for the suppression of all professional armies and a establishment of a national citizen force; oppose all expenditure on armaments not absolutely necessary for the national defence; demand the suppression of secret diplomacy and the publication of all existing and projected treaties and agreements, and the submission of these to a popular referendum; should use every possible means to further the development of international solidarity among the peoples, and to compel governments to have recourse to peaceful arbitration instead of war in their disputes.

“This Conference further instructs the International Bureau to take the necessary steps to arrange a Conference between the representatives of the working-class movement of any two countries between whom war is threatened in order that an arrangement may come to as to the best means to be jointly taken to prevent war, or to frustrate any act of aggression which may be made to serve as an excuse or pretext for the commencement of hostilities.”