MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

| THE LABOR CONFERENCE. STATEMENT BY MB. HENDERSON. REPRESENTATION AT STOCKHOLM KEAEBTRMED. Renter ServLe. Received Aug. 22, 9.30 p.m. London, Aug. 22i At the adjourned mectij.jr of the Labof party regarding the Stockholm Conference, Mr. Henderson, in the course of a pergonal statement, denied that he had Intentionally withheld any material information from the previous conference. Be declared that M. Kerensky to-lay favored British representation at Stockholm. Mr. Henderson urjred them not to insist on the withdrawal of the Labor fcembers of the Government, beewise Mat would he subversive to the success* (ul prosecution of the war. Mr. HuteHlnson, a member of the executive, moved that the conference remains of the opinion that it is desirable British Labor should be represented at Stockholm, in order that its opinion ma l ' not fw misunderstood or misrepresented at the conference, and it regrets the Government's intention to refuse passports. The conference requests that further representations be made on the matter.

Mr. Fairchild, a member of the Socialist party, moved an addition to ths resolution stating that the policv of Labor being incompatible with the policy of the Government, the conference do"rides to withdraw the Laborites from participation in the Government Mr. Will Thornc, M.P., opposed the resolution. He said there was only one man in Germany who could make peace namely, the Kaiser.

Mr. Smillie, president of the Miners'Federation, appealed to Mr. Fairchild to Withdraw the addition, and he agreed. An amendment that the question oi representation at Stockholm he eubmitted to a referendum of trades lining afMiated to the Labor Party was defeated bv a card vote of 1,500.000 to f120,000. The conference reaffirmed the decision to send delegates to Stockholm by 1,234 000 to 1,231.000. "

Mr. Barnes said that in joining the War Cabinet he wag acting accordin" to the eipressed views of Labor He believed it wonld be a bad thine for labor to leave the Government. He intended continuing to support the Government to establish the freedom of the Re,was opposed to the Stockho.m Conference, berause no (food could »me therefrom. Genua;./ had al! to gam and nothing to lose by such a conference.

Mr. Barnes stated that before hj» accepted a seat in tho War Cabinet he wrote to the Premier ursine the retention of Jfr. Henderson, ne <.Mr. Ei»Tnes) affirmed that sending deH'ate* to Stockholm would weal-on the Government \ drirablf. peace could not Ke secured thereby. H* had no objection to consultation at the proper time and place, but the present was not the time and Stockholm not the place.

A CRISIS FOR LABOR. A STORMY DEBATE. Times Service. Received Aug. 2-2, 0.20 p.m. London. Aug. 21. The narrowness of the vote creates a serious crisis for Labor. The debate was stormv. Mr. Smillie called Mr. Barnes a "blackleg" for replacing Mr. Henderson ii. the Cabinet. Mr. Barney hotly resented the ivmark. A delegate declared Oat flO n.-r cent. of the Lancashire operatives' were against the Stockholm Conference. If union members in the trendies voted they would break up the conference like a pacifist meeting.