THE MERCHANT SEAMEN'S VIEW.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.")
SIR,—The Paeificists and Bolsheviks in the British Trade Union movement are whining because His Majesty's Government refuse them passports to Switzerland, where they wished to embrace the notorious pro-German Troelstra, who is supposed to be in the confidence of the German Socialist majority. The Government's action has deprived us Merchant Seamen of the pleasure of pre- venting Mr. Arthur Henderson and his misguided friends from making themselves ridiculous and mischievous in a foreign country. It appears that nothing short of a miracle will persuade Mr. Arthur Henderson and his friends that their frantic efforts to meet their German comrades and friends are absolutely repug- nant to the great mass of British working men.
The Merchant Seamen's League, however, is determined to endeavour to prove to Mr. Henderson and his friends that His Majesty's righting Services have no admiration for our Bolsheviks and Pacificists. Our League has decided to ask our fighting men whether they support our policy of a German boycott at the end of the war until the unspeakable crimes of the Huns against humanity have been expiated in the eyes of the civilized nations. Further, we are going to ask those Trade Unionists who are serving in uniform whether they desire to purge Trade Unions of the Bolsheviks and Pacificists, and to record their opinion in favour of the Resolution which will be proposed at the Trade Union Congress at Derby, calling upon the Congress to establish a Trade Union Political Party under the constitutional rules of the Trade Union Congress. A manifesto and appeal to this effect will appear almost immediately in the advertisement columns of the Press.
On behalf of the Merchant Seamen's League, I appeal earnestly to all men and women who have relatives in the fighting forces to see that they get a newspaper with the advertisement, which will contain a coupon which will enable them to record their opinion. Give our fighting men who are making the real sacrifice a chance of showing what they think of our "Bolshies."—I am, Sir, &c., J. HAVELOCK WILSON. The Merchant Seamen's League,
76 Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W. 1.
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