Letter (copy) : Meeting of I.F.T.U. and L.S.I.

              WMC/EAB/847 
INTERNATIONAL.
14th June 1937
AIR MAIL.
Mr. A. Hayday, M.P., 
Hotel Regina, 
Quai du Mont Blanc, 
GENEVA.
Dear Mr. Hayday
Spain
MEETING OF I.F.T.U. AND L.S.I.
I understand from Mr. Hicks that you will be attending the special meeting which is being held in Geneva on Wednesday next, of the Executives of the I.F.T.U. and L.S.I.
I am not very clear as to what is to be considered at the meeting, although I understand it is the Spanish situation generally. I presume there will be under review the telegram from the Spanish Socialist and Communist Parties and from the U.G.T., suggesting  a united front on the subject.
You know our policy well enough, I am sure, to make it quite clear that we will have nothing whatever to do with such a proposal. If such a conference were decided upon we would take no part in it, and it might indeed lead to our withdrawal from the International, as I think the General Council is determined not to be dragged in to consultation with the Communists.
With regard to the possibility of a Conference held under the auspices of the Labour and Socialist International and the I.F.T.U., such as was held in London in March this year, the Chairman and I both feel that there would be no value in holding such a conference. I think the onus is upon the Spanish comrades, or any of the other National Centres who propose such a Conference, to show clearly what could be accomplished by it. Vague generalities about preventing the Germans and Italians from giving assistance to the rebels would not be enough to justify such a conference. We should have specific proposals, and these in turn, if they are made, ought to be remitted to the National Centres for consideration beforehand.
You will know that our people feel very sore that after the conference in December in Paris and after that which was held in London in March last there were recriminations against the British Labour