SOCIALIST CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1919, Page 2

SOCIALIST CONFERENCE.

ATTITUDE OF GERMAN MAJORITY.! SOCIALISTS. ' Ai:; Berne, Feb. S. At tlio International Socialist Conference, ivlr Henderson is reported to imve said in hia speech tiiftt the oojeet of the Conference 13 to bring the greatest measure of working iwlueiiee to bear 011 the peace negotiations. Braining was elected chairman. Jiuysmans announced that there were eighty-two delegates present ana others were coming. Only Switzerland anil Belgium had refused to participate. Albert Thomas said a great step had been made by the countries, recently enemies, meeting together. He pointed out the tremendous dill'erence between the Majority .Socialists in Germany and the Socialists of other countries. The latter could not understand their attitude at the outbreak of he war, and their compliance with the acts of the German Government. Nothing could be done until the Majority Socialists expressed their opinion of the crimes com-mitted—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMANS TALK LOUDLY. 1 Berne, Feb. 5. At the Socialist Conference the German delegates were hostile to the allied representatives- Schiedemann's nominees—Wels, Muller and Molkenbulr—refuse to sanction the formal blame of the late German Government, and will demand the return of the colonies, a plebiscite in Alsace Lorraine and resist any attempt at the abolition of conscrption in Germany.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WAR. Berne, Feb. 4. A feature of the Socialist Conference is the decision to enquire who is responsible for the war. French delegates quoted many facts showing Germany to be wholly responsible, and sarcasticall; referred to the part played by the German Majority Socialists. Wels, in reply, alleged that Russia was responsible, and dwelt upon the terrible effects of the blockade. He promised that the old regime in Germany would never be restoredTHE BELGIANS' ATTITUDE. Brussels, Feb. 4. M- Vanderville, in a letter resigning the presidency of the International Socialist Bureau, owing to the decision of the Belgian Labor Party not to participate in the Berne Conference, while regretting that the Belgian Labor Party was not sharing in the constitution of the ne law, says the rebutment caused by four years' suffering was irresistible. TOO MUCH PROTESTING. London, Feb. 5, At the Berne Conference, Herr Wels, on behalf of the Majority Socialists of (lermany, in a vigorous speech protested that M. Thomas ignored the fact that Russia constituted a grave menace to German civilisation. The Socialists did their duty in self-defence. He protested against Austria's ultimatum to Serbia and endeavored to prevent the extension of the war, and also protested thn I-Terr von Bethmami-Hollweg had admil ted that the Prussian methods regarding Belgium was an offence against international law. The Socialists had decided to support reparation. Herr Wels condemned air raids and submarine warfar®, but pointed out the terrible effects of the blockade which had caused three-quarters of a million to die of starvation. Regarding the Brest-Litovsk treaty, he said German Socialists were too weak to prevent the Imperialistic tendencies, as the French Socialists were too weak to ameliorate the hardest armistice terms ever imposed— Aus.-N2. Cable Assoc-