Help the Spanish Workers! (circular)

              NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LABOUR
TRANSPORT HOUSE, SMITH SQUARE, LONDON, S.W.1
TRADES UNION CONGRESS
Secretary: SIR WALTER M. CITRINE
(Victoria 9820)
THE LABOUR PARTY
Secretary: J.S. MIDDLETON
(Victoria 8016)
PARLIAMENTARY LABOUR PARTY
Secretary: H. SCOTT LINDSAY
(Whitehall 6240)
Our Ref: WMC/HVY/FC/791.
27th July, 1936.
In reply please quote:-
CIR.No. 131 (1935-36).
TO SECRETARIES OF AFFILIATED UNIONS, DIVISIONAL AND LOCAL LABOUR PARTIES, AND TRADES COUNCILS.
Dear Sir  (Madam),
HELP THE SPANISH WORKERS!
In February last, by the freely expressed will of the Spanish people, a Democratic Republican Government was re-established.   It  sought to continue the interrupted work of bringing justice and order to a country where military reaction, social injustice and economic misery prevailed.   Monarchists and Fascists are striving to overthrow the present enlightened system of Government by force of arms.
In the struggle against the plotters and rebels, the workers have willingly taken up arms.     Their heroic defence has deeply moved all in this country who believe in Peace, Freedom, and Democracy.
The maintenance of representative government in Spain is of the greatest political significance for all other countries concerned with the triumph of Democracy over Fascism.  There is, moreover, deep concern for the Spanish men, women and children in the sacrifices they are making. The death roll is already known to be heavy. Privation, suffering, and want are widespread, despite the utmost effort of the Spanish Government to relieve the distress.
The widowed, the orphaned and the wounded must be given all possible help.
The National Council of Labour have decided, therefore, to issue a special appeal for contributions to the International Solidarity Fund, which will be used entirely for the relief of distress amongst Spanish workers, especially the women and children
The General Council of the Trades Union Congress have opened the Fund with a contribution of £1,000 and it is hoped that all Affiliated Organisations and sympathisers will respond generously to the appeal.
A Joint Meeting of the International Federation of Trade Unions and the Labour and Socialist International has been called to consider the raising of funds in other countries and to determine the best method of distribution.