SOCIALISTS’ CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1918, Page 3

SOCIALISTS’ CONFERENCE.

LONDON February 22 Mr Albert Thomas is the presider Socialist of the Conference, which ir eludes representatives from France, [1 nly, Roiunania, South Africa, an southern Slavs. Mr Thomas said th Conference must show itself able ti reach an agreement in war aims whicl the Allied Governments failed to do. The "Daily Telegraph” states tha Trade Unions are considering separate ly from the Socialist organisations anc establishing a Trade Union Laboui Party owing to their resentment ol the Pacifists attacks on Trade Union officials who while members of Parliament and Ministers advocated the prosecution of the war. (Received This Day at 12.30. a.m.) LONDON February 24. They inter-Allied Socialist Conference agreed to the memorandum on war aims, declaring the peoples of Europe wore the .chief sufferers by the war, though not responsible for the out.bVea’j, The invasion of Belgium and France threatens the very existence. of independent nationalities and strikes at the faith of treaties. Therefore a victorious Gorman imperialism would mean the defeat and destruction of European democracy and liberty. The Socialists were not warring with the Austro-Gcrman peoples, hut the Governments who''oppose them. "While inflexibly resolved to fight until the task of liberation is achieved, the Socialists oooose a war of con quest

Tlio -Conference appointed Messrs Henderson, Albert Thomas, and Vandervalde, a Commission to endeavour to secure from tile Abed Governments, an agreement for at least one representative to participate in the Peace Conference.

IN' COMPLETE AGREEAfiENT

ON SOCIALIST ATMS

Received, this day at 8.45 p.m. ' LONDON, Feb. 24

, 'Fife Inter-Aliiotl Socialist Conference lias ended. It reached a complete agreement on war aims, and is talcing steps to notify the decisions to Socialist parties in the Centra] Kin pi res. it is sendiup; a 'delegation to confer with Presidents Wilson and Gompers.

At a farewell luncheon, Air Henderson presiding, expressed gratification that the conference had substantially accepted British labour’s war aims, cabled on 17tli December. The conference had decided for the absolute freedom and integrity of Belgium, Serbia, Itoumania and Montenegro, and that every territorial change he based on justice and right, making for a permanence of the world’s peace. These were our irreducible minimum, and when secured we desire to begin the fullest intercourse with all nations.

,We repudiate every attempt to institute an economic boycott or commercial and financial isolation of Germany. The conflict can only he ended in three ways; namely, by militarism, exhaustion or conciliation. We are convinced that all belligerents must eventually resort to conciliation. Nothing was further from the truth than the allegation that Labour was only concerned iii holding out the olive branch to the enemy. We will not negotiate with the olive branch, while the enemy hand holds the sword. Both sides must be prepared to abandon militarism before a 'settlement is possible