The Government and the Unions The Prime Minister acted with
unlooked-for rapidity in inviting the General Council of the Trade Union Congress to meet him at Downing Street on Wednesday to discuss the speeding-up of the armament programme. Sir Thomas Inskip is also to meet representatives of the Amalgamated Engineering Union. Serious difficulties, no doubt, will have to be overcome if the discussions are to succeed. Similar negotiations during the last week in France between the Government, employers and employees have shown that the unions must ask for certain guarantees and safeguards before agreeing to increased hours and exertions. It is worth noticing also that the A.E.U., or some sections of it, may be inclined to oppose the Government's demands on political grounds ; for its London District Committee is reported to be among the organisations pressing the National Council of Labour for a clear lead on foreign policy. It would be interesting to know how far such influences, and problems which have already led to industrial conflicts in the armaments industry, will affect •the discussions with Sir Thomas Inskip. What is certain is that if, as it should be, the conference is successful, and the same methods are applied in other spheres of industry. there must be some change in the relations of the Government and official Labour. It would seem impossible to carry through the armaments programme with complete success so long as there exists a profound split between the Government and Labour on the lines and objects cf general policy.
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