Report of Central Office Secretary on visit to Germany

              IRON AND STEEL TRADES CONFEDERATION.
PERSONAL.      DECEMBER 1921
REPORT OF CENTRAL OFFICE SECRETARY ON VISIT TO GERMANY
To the Executive Council.
Gentlemen,
I left London on Tuesday, November 22nd and returned on Monday night 5th December 1921.
As was announced at your last meeting, the visit was in response to an invitation by the General Federation of German Trade Unions and the purpose was expressed in a letter subsequently received from Mr. Rudolf Wissell, M.P. (German Reichstag) and a Member of the Executive Council of the Federation. The letter is as follows:-
"A. Pugh, Esq.,
Steel Confederation,
London.
Dear Sir,
The representatives of the German Workers often find to their great regret, that public opinion abroad is still under a misapprehension as regards the peaceful intentions of the German people and their earnest desire to make good the ravages of war.
In particular it is little known in other countries that the whole of German industry has been converted since the Armistice to peaceful purposes, in accordance with the international obligations of the country, the new German constitution and repeated decisions of the government and the Reichstag.
The General Federation of German Trade Unions (Allgemeiner Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund) which represents 9 millions of organised manual and non-manual workers, have therefore authorised me to invite you to participate in a fortnight's trip round Germany because they desire to offer an opportunity to some of the most qualified representatives of public opinion in various countries to see for themselves the actual state of affairs in Germany - as they believe they will - and the resolute determination of the German people to maintain peace and to fulfil the Versailles treaty.
You will be afforded an opportunity of seeing all the most important works of the industry formerly devoted to the production of armaments, including Krupps, the great Stateowned installations where war material was previously manufactured in various parts of the country and to interview leading persons in the government, employers' and workers' organisations, etc.
The German trade unions sincerely hope that you will accept this invitation for they are convinced that this trip to which a number of well-known members of Parliaments, economic organisations and of the Press are being invited, will help materially to enlighted public opinion and thereby promote a spirit of mutual understanding amoung the nations.