Show GERMAN TRADESMEN FORGED FORCED TO ADMIT ADMIT- 0 ERRORS AMSTERDAM July Tuly 30 The The work of ot the International Trades Union congress con congress con gress today was hindered by a a. L protracted protracted protracted pro pro- discussion in committee of the theold theold theold old international organization regardIng regarding regard- regard Ing ng the German declaration of the stand of German trades unionists during during dur- dur ing ng the tha warThe war The Germans generally maintained an unrepentant attitude until Samuel Gompers president of the American federation of Labor told them plainly that hat if it were continued it would be impossible for worKers of other countries countries coun- coun tries rles to retain relations with them Inthe in inthe the he future The German delegates thereupon somewhat relaxed The committee on Its return reported as follows That the statement of Herr Sassenbach Sassenbach Sassenbach Sassen- Sassen bach German Socialist be Incorporated incorporated incorporated rated in full fun that the regrets expressed expressed ex- ex pressed Dressed therein be registered that the German delegation confirm frankly and openly the spirit of Sassenbach's declaration that if the avowal be frank rank open and satisfactory the conference con- con fc ference rence will proceed to the order of the day that if unsatisfactory freedom of action be reserved ADOPT REPORT Against all expectations the congress adopted the report without debate after Sassenbach in a few tew words confirmed confirmed confirmed con con- firmed the German declaration The congress then proceeded to form forma a a. new The position of ot the various nations In the voting places the British and I Americans in an unfair situation They represent together more than workers among tie the workers represented at the congress but have only nine votes of the total of twenty- twenty seven which may be cast on motions The main points of the resolution presented by M M. Sassenbach follow The German trades unions always recognized that tha t Germany Germany- acted wrongly In Belgium and always condemned condemned condemned con con- atrocities German occupation of Belgium and the deportation deportation deportation tation of Belgians was not done with the consent of the German workers that the attitude of the German workers workers work work- ers at the outbreak and during the war was dictated by the position of Germany Germany Germany Ger Ger- many it was their conviction that Germany Germany Germany Ger Ger- many was fighting a defensive warThe war The Tho German workers always had been opponents of war and armaments and never gave assent to the governments government's governments government's governments government's govern govern- ments ment's Imperialism The German workers recognize that the workers of other countries cannot appreciate or understand the sever several l actions of the German workers during the war but these actions were forced on them by the severe struggle waged by the German nation |