SOCIALISTS AND PEACE.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15918, 4 June 1917, Page 8

SOCIALISTS AND PEACE.

FOLLOWING RUSSIA. t ' ""~ — * BRITISH SOCIALISTS' PROPOSAL. EXTREMISTS' COUNCILS WANTED. (By Cable—Press Association—Copyright.) (Australian and X.Z. Cablo Association.) (Received Juno 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 2. Sir Robert Smillic will prcsido over a Socialist Convention of 1000 delegates at Leeds on Sunday, the object being to consider the Russian revolution, and tho organisation of British democracy to follow Russia's lead. A sensational item on tho agenda paper is a resolution proposing tho immediate establishment of Councils of Working-men and Soldiers' delegates in every town and country district in tho United Kingdom.

MR ROBERTS'S INVITATION. LABOUR PARTY'S SUBSTITUTE. (Australian and X.Z. Cablo Association.) (Received Juno 3rd, 0.0 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 2. The "Daily Telegraph" states that at a meeting of tho Labour Party executive, Mr G. H Roberts (the Labour member) received an invitation to visit Petrograd or Stockholm. The executive has asked Mr J. R. Clyncs (Labour member for Manchester) to go in his stead. THE STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE. LABOUR PARTY'S ATTITUDE. LONDON June 1. The "Daily Chroniclc'' explains that Mr G. H. Roberts will not attend the Stockholm conference. He will merely stay in Stockholm en route for Petrograd, "in order to expound the attitude of the British Labour Party, which has always refused to attend tho Stockholm conference. It is recalled that fcho last conference of tho Labour Party passed a. resolution in favour of fighting until victory is won. A recent message _ stated: —"The British Socialist organisation Las nomi-

nated Mr G. H. Roberts (Labour member for Norwich), who will represent tho majority section, and Mr Ramsay Macdonald, who will represent tho minority section, as delegates to tho Stockholm Peace Conference.'' FRANCE'S ATTITUDE. "PEACE. MUST COME WITH VICTOR i." SPEECH BY M. RIBOT. (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) (Received June 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, Juno 2. At an imprcssivo session of tho Chamber of Deputies tho Primo Minister, M. Ribot, announced the Government's attitude to tho Stockholm l'eacc Conference. He said that tho Government had refused to countenancc the French Socialists' desiro to meet the Germans, and would not grant them passports. The Government, he continued, would shortly publish tho Convention mado between Franco and Russia, in order to silence tho infamous campaign which alleged that Franco had precipitated tho war. M. Ribot added that peace could not possibly emerge from such a congress as tho ono at Stockholm, but could only conic with victory. "Peace for France," ho said, "must bo a French peace, embodying the country's aspirations.'' Tho Chamber later voted that a secret session should be held to enable Deputies to hear the reports of tho French Socialist Mission, which, has just returned from Petrograd. "A GROSS BLUNDER." A BRITISH LABOUR, VIEW. LONDON, June 1. Mr A. Appleton, the secretary of tho General Federation of Trades Unions, says that tho loaders solidly oppose the Stockholm conference. "The conference will only tend to embitter the international situation," ho said. Ino German Socialists, even with tho best; will in the workl, cannot give effect to their views nt tho conference. It is a gross blunder, and will only result m quarrels." FRENCH SOCIALISTS' OPINION. PARIS. Juno 1. French Socialists aro of opinion that not to participate in the Stockholm conference would throw Russia into Germany's arms, whilo participation would keep Russia on tho offensive. They consider that tho conference will bo a victorv for those desiring a democratic and* not a German peace, and that peaco will bo assured by a revolution in Germany. DEMONSTRATIONS IN VIENNA. THOUSANDS CEASE WORK. (Roccived Juno 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) COPENHAGEN . Juno 2. Concurrently with the opening of Parliament, thousands of workers in Vienna ceased work, and attended Socialist meetings or demonstrated in the streets in favour of peace.