SOCIALISTS AND PEACE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3102, 5 June 1917, Page 5

SOCIALISTS AND PEACE

LABOUR-SOCIALIST CONVENTION IN ENGLAND THE NO-ANNEXATION, NOINDEMNITY CRY WORKMEN'S AND SOLDIERSCOMMITTEES (Kec. .Tune .1, 7.20 p.m.) ~,, ' . London, June 3. J he •Vahonal Labour-Socialist Convention has opened at the Leeds Coliseum. Mr. Jtobert Sinillie (President of the Miners federation) presided, and was accompanied By Mr. ,T. Hainsay Uμdonald, M.l\, Philip Snowden. M.P., }\% J o«;eW. M.Pi'., Mr. W. C. Anderson, Ai.l. (all Labour members), Mr. Arnold iiuplon (mining organwor). Noted leadera or_ the great trades unions were iuvited. J lie proceedings opead with- the sinsing of the "lied Flag" to a German tiuie.

ih: Smillie said; "We have i»me to talk reason, not treason. It would bo a calamity for .Russia to make a separate peace, but as it has heon agreed that peace could not come Worn military action, Tvhy not begin to negotiate now?" . Mr. .!. Ramsay MacdoiiaW's resolution congratulating Hwssia on the revolution wa« carried.

Mr. Philip Snowden moTCd: "That peace lerme acceptable by this conference must be ba««l on no annexations, no indemnities, and thn rights of nafcious to decule their own affairs."

Jlr. Snowden indignantly , denounced tile dastardly proposal to tear four hundred tliousinul square iniliv: of Africa from Germany and turning Hie 'l'nrks out of Europe.

The representatives of the .Seamen's and Firemen's llnimi then moved to strike out the words-. "Sα annexation, no imlomnity." This evoked an angry demonstration, until the chairman put a- proposal to tho meeting that no amendments should be Allowed. The proposal wan carried.

Mr. Bevin (tho Dockers' Union) said: "I am prepared to respond to the Russian invitation, but what if the Germans refuse? ( Are you prepared to fight in order to'compel them?" ;Shouts of "Js'o! Jvo!") "You cannot eat your cako and have it."

Mr. Snowdou's moiiou for the establishment of urban und rural district councils of and 'soldiers' delegated was earned.

Mr. W. C. AiulcTJou moved a resolution demanding the co-ordination of working-class activity, and working strenuously for a peace made liy tho peoples of the various countries, and the complete political economic emancipation, of international Laliour.

Mr. Williams (Transport Workers' Federation),' in seconding the resolution, corrected Air. Smillio's contention that thoy had not conio to talk treason. "If any of the delegates have cold feet they had, better leave, because wo have met for business. Wo have to fight to speak for our own class. If the Russian revolutionists had been concerned in the ftussiau Constitution tho Eomanoffs would be enthroned still. Wβ congratulate our Hussian comrades." The resolution was carried, with two dissentients. Mr: Snowden drafted a cablegram for the information of the Petrograd Workmen's and Soldiers' Committee on what had been done.—Aus.-N.55. Cable Assn. VIGOROUS DEBATE IN SYDNEY ¥1.1. (Ree. iTu'ne 4, 9.30 p.m.) Sydney, June ■*. The Political la)»nr League vigorously "debated a motion in favour of sending a message to the Leeds Labour-Social-ist Conference in favour of peace, and asking Mr. Philip Snowden, M.P., to represent them. An amendment to send a similar message to the Stockholm Conference , was also debated. A committae was appointed to formulate resolutions.—? Press Aesn, BRITISH LABOUR PARTY DENIES UNPATRIOTIC MOTIVES London, June •). The British Labour Party's executive authorises the statement that tho Britieh Labour group has nob reversed its decision not to enter au international conference of the kind proposed by the Dutch and Scandinavian, committee, but is willing to state its war aims to tho Allied and neutral. Socialists' Conference at Stockholm, where- a visit is a, mere incident in the important mission to the Russian Labourites and Socialists. The executive keenly resents the insinuation that its representatives at Stockholm are likely to do or t-.iv anything to compromise the British cause.—The "Times." THE SOCIAUST~PEACE CONFERENCE BRITISH SOCIALIST LEADER'S' WAI-NINO.' Paris, June 3. ilr. H. M. Hyndman (chairman of the British Socialist Party), in an interview in ''Xβ Journal," stated: "If we attend the Stockholm Conference 'we will deal a liiortfil blow 1o Socialism. It is impossible to forget that the German Socialists are mere servants of their Government. They do not want a triumph for Socialism, but a triumph for Germany. The Allies' decision to send delegates would be the tirst victory Gevumiiy has won."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FRANCE'S REFUSaToF SOCIALIST • PASSPORTS , (Kee. Juiio 1, 7.25 p.m.) Amsterdam, Juno 3. The German newspapers angrily denounce France's refusal of passports for the French Socialists to travel to Stockholm. It says:"The French Government is afraid to let these delegates go.'" Other newspapers invite the I'reuclt people to revolt against the autocratic Paris Cabinet, which is treating them like . school-children.—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■