All these lively exchanges about the Minority Movement occurred in
the discussion of the proposal to refer back the report of the General Council refusing recognition to any body affiliated to that Movement. The result of the card vote was not announced till Wednesday, when the following overwhelming decision against the Minority Movement I was received with cheers and laughter :-- Against Reference Back .. 3,746,000 For Reference Back . . • • 148,000 Majority against.. • • 3,598,000 No doubt waverers had been influenced by the insulting " fraternal " message which had been received from Moscow accusing the General Council of having "betrayed" the miners. Thus a favourable field was prepared for the recommendation of the General Council on Wednesday that no useful purpose would be served by continuing negotiations with the Russian unions so long as their present attitude and policy were maintained. It is to be hoped that this recommendation will bring an end to the ridiculous plan of allowing Communists to repre- sent, or rather to misrepresent, British trade unionism at the Amsterdam International. The T.U.C., at all events, has at last followed so far as it can the example of the Government in breaking with Russia.
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