STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE AND A TORY SQUIGGLE.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 8, Issue 344, 26 September 1917, Page 6

STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE AND A TORY SQUIGGLE.

In our issue of the v/eek before last, we had occasion io severely rebuko the Reverend L. M. ls'M for giving publication—under t-ho safe, shelter of Parliamentary privilege—to that , were positively false. AVc want again to insist thai the men who aro clocted to mako the laws which are meant to express tho collective morality shall havo a higher conception of what their duty means than will .permit thorn- tv doc-em! to tho immorality ,oi" uttprinjj skuiders from their Parliamentary -scata. This weok WD.ij.ro faced with the duty of administering a. reprimand, to fche Member for Nelson —Mr. T. A. 11. Field; and it is to be regretted that this gentleman's provimis- experience when ho rashly took a. header into the ■slough of vilification did not mako him a. wiser man. Mr. Field's excuso lu/iy bo that, on this occasion as,on the last, ho spoke without really knowing what. ho was" talking about. Our readers will remomber that wliou Mr., b'ield last essayed to attack "The Worker," his charges were so utterly reckless, so positively incapable of substantiation, and so based on an absence of that information which every sixth standard schoolboy might have 'been expected to possess, that; ho was mudu to look ridiculous in tho eyes of every well-informed working man, hud was sadly in danger of becoming the laughing stock of his fellow Tories. Indeed, evo complete was Mr. Field's discomfiture as a- result of that ludicrous Don Quixotic tilt, that not even the Sancho Panzas of the- Tory press would consent to reinforce his latest exploit. Eveu the "Wellington "Dominion" (which rashly devoted some two columns of space- to Mr. Field's first attack on "The Worker" and tho Labor movement), preserved a silence that was as loud as tho stillness of a disused graveyard on a dismal night, when ho launched his second attack. It is>, consequently, only in tho sombre and unlively pa-gos of "Hansard" that we find Mr. Field's latest linguistic charge recorded and immortalised. Hero it is: Mr. T. A. H. Field (Nelson).—Sir, a few minutes ago the member for Grey charged the Government that they treated tho workers of New Zealand not sj> workers, i>ut as slaves. I proposo to show that the party tho honourable member is allied with in New Zealand —a. littlo gang of labor agitators —treat tho workers as if thoy wcro slaves and and volt. as if they were frco independent 'thinking men. Now, take one "of these gentlemen whom he is ' always holding Up to this House as ono of the nobletib men in this Donunion. Whe.n. 'tuero was a- strike on the West Coast was it not tfhis gentleman whose idea- of an open ballot was to say to tho workers," "All tho men in favour of continuing tho strike stand out to tho right, and all aha d-—scabs go to tho left." Mr. Webb.—That is an absolute falsehood. Mr. Speaker.—Tho honourable member must not make that statement. . ■ Mr. T. A. H. Field.—l believe ho will find that the statement appeared in the papers on the West Coast. Mr. Webb. —Why do you not make tho correction; that is not fair. The Speaker.—Tho honourable member was allowed to mako his si>eeeh without interruption. Mr. T. A. H. Field.—Well, Sir, the honourable member says this is not correct and I will.accept his statement. But wo will go further in this direction. If there is any body of men in tho world at tho present time who deserve the praise' of the people of this country and of the people of the British Empire, it is the merchant seamen of Britain —the men who aro taking their ships out day by day in tho face of submarines, who aro facing great personal danger and who aro exhibiting courage, that I believe has never been- equalled in the history of the world. Those men deserve the highest, praise. And because they, through their union in '.England objected to carry thoso pacifists who wanted to go to the German-arranged Conference in Stockholm-* — Mr. Payne.—Tho Ru-ssian-arianged Conference, plea.se. Mr. T. A H. Field.—The Ge-raian-eugineered Conferencp. Sir, bro-ausc the British merchant seamen who have experienced the tender mercies of the Hun to unoffending seamen . and passengers, and who, knowing tho hard facts of tho war, refused to sail with iheso academical armchair ■pacifists, the. paper that is run by this little band" of labor agitator;, spoke of our , British seamen in the following words:— "Certain men occupying prominent positions in the British- .Seamen's Union hail sold themselves to labor's bitterest and -nrost brutal enemies for the doing of tho dirtiost and most treacherous piece of work that has yet cast n shpdow of shame over tho Labor movement. Their supremo crime is that, they hkeklegend—on the trorl'i's Labor movement us well as their own union." ■ Does the "world's LaT.or movement" moan the- world's Labor movement, which was hatched >v Boil in before tho war? This paper referred to tin; secretary of that union in the following., terms, as:— Mr. llavelock Wilson, who has proved , himself such a sorry tool of Labors foes at this juncture.," .'iitd also s->id, "It uoiild Lo well for the world's Labor movement if it should permanently ban Mr. Havelock Wilson for tho miscrablo part he has played in the betrayal of Lalxjr at this stage, and if the Dames of tin; crew who havo jkminiLtcd themselves to do tho blackly work of the enemy could In- ,- obtained ii; would be quite a fair thing for honest Lahor men ito rei'uso to countenance their ernploymeut

oa a ship in any part of l-lio world, until they made- tJio fullest reparation tor tho wrong they have boon guilty of. :, Au lion. Member.—-That is what "Tho Maorilann Worker bays? Mr. T. A. H. Field.—Yea, that is what "Tho Maorilaud Worker" says. And yet Mio honourable member for Grey lists tho iitiptidonco to got up in this Ilouac and mako ' these wild statements whilst ib is the very band of men who nre supporting him, that aro treating the workers as if they were staves not entitled to have opinions of their own. This paper ia always , shrieking about victimisation and yet coolly proposes to victimise m«n whom it has never seen, whoso najnes it does not kuow and whoso reasons it does not understajul, just becuuso what they did does not agroo with the autocrats who run "The- Maoriland Worker." Tho article concludes by saying that, — "Tho deed is regarded by tho mon and women of tho New Zealand Labor and Socialist movement with disgust and pity—loathing for tho crime and pity and contempt for the criminals." The members of tho British Soamcn's Union who refused to carry these delegates' to this Stockholm Guufcronco which there, is every -reason to be-licvo was engineered in Berlin, aro called "criminals" by tho two or three extremists who arc trying to blufi' that they are tho '.'New Zealand Labor and Socialist movement." This personal abuse, "scab," "blackleg," "traitor," "criminal," is all part of a settled policy of intimidation and slave driving. Moral courage is comparatively rare and theso individuals have so poor an opinion of the workers they exploit that they imagine they have rio moral courage and that Itlicy can be driven under the crack of the slave whip of personal abuse in any direct-ion theso autocrats desire. There aro people in this Dominion, outsido tho food profiteers altogether, who are using this war for their own selfish ends, and they are people 'very nearly connected— I was going 'to say with tho honourable member, but I think they only make a tool of liiin. Some of these , people, in Australia., if not in NeAV Zealand, will oven descend to ask foi German money to help them in their anti-conscription campaign. Mr. Webb.—Have you got proof of that? Mr. T. A. H. Field.— I have a abatement in a, paper giving tho names. I will give- thorn. Thore was a firm in York Street, Sydney, called tho Foreign Agency Company (Limited) with Paxil Schwartz —now interned — as managing director. On tho 10th February, IUI6, that German Company was declared an enemy firm;, and iv October, 191G, the liquidator, in going through the correspondence, found a letter addressed to Paul Schwartz, managing director, requesting money on behalf of tho no-con-scription campaign in order to educate tho pcoplo throughout the State. Tho letter also askod this individual, Mr. Paul Schwartz, for tho names of persons who would bo likely to help. The letter was signed by Senator J. Grant" and P. J. Minalniu, M.L.A. An Hon. Member. —Whcro was that? ' Mr. T. A. H. Field.—That was in Sydney. : An Hon. Member. —In a British country! Mr. T. A. 11. Field.—Yes. To show how the workers are humbugged, I will mention a statement niadp. in this paper before- tho municipal election in Christchurch, and a statement made in it after tho municipal election —a fortnight elapsing between, tho two statements. On tho IKtli April it .said, "A municipal victory for Labor .would l>e regarded as a victory over Conscription—which it will be, of course." On tho 2nd May it stated; "The municipal results do not alter the fact that the people of Now Zealand aro suiti-eon-scriptionists" —a complete turn-round in a fortnight. TJmso conducting it also said in one of their ifvsues, "The press .semis to liavo entered into an nukoly alikuice, not exactly to lie to i<ho people, but to suppress the i.nitjj, which is the very worst form of lying! Yet in the very samo issue of the paper they suppress part of a. letter which it did n.ofc suit l-liem to put .in. To accuse others , of doing what, they arc doing thorn solves is a trick the Germans have mad« us familiar with. As an I.W.W. leader said, we only toll them s-s much as is good for them—mental slavery. The honourable member for Grey ma.kos many wild statements on tho floor of this House which aro passed ornr us not worthy of notice; but I hare thought it worth while to reply to one of them. MIXING HIS HISTORY. llr. Field's statement concerning Mr. Somplo was quite untrue; and it is to fbe regretted that hri did not' honorably apologiso for tho wrong when it, was pointed out to him by Mr. Wo,b!i. Wo may, however, safely leave Mr. Field to furnidi explanations to ; Mr. Somplo of hnw the mbsta-tcmcnb came U) be inside. To us it M-.e.ms that .Mr. Field was mixing his history.. We 'sincerely hone ho' will never make tho mir-tako of mixin.; , hi;; drinks with tho sumo abandon. When tho great 1909-10 coal strike of N.S.W. was in full swing, Mr. W, M. Hughes worked hard to ensure that the wharf laborers would blackleg on the miners; and at a big meeting of the waterside unions, held in Mie basement of Sydney Town Hall and. presided nvor by Mr E. Kelly, then prcsideii'l of (he viii"", arid a man who had always U-oii Mr. llughes's first lieutenant in fighting tho Socialists, Mr. Hughes, who was nor- and novpr had beon a wharf laborer, had moved

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a certain resolution, and an ainendineut bad beon proposed by a bona fide natcrBido worker. Mr. Kellj* called on tlioso in favor of tho amendmoiit to <jo to the right, and tlioso iv fuvor of tho motion io tho left. In reply to n. questiou, the president explained: "It menus tlwt thoso who nro in favor of unionism will go (o tho right mid thoso in favor of scabbing will go to tho loft." Mr. Hughrs violently quarrelled with his chief lieutenant <ts a result. It may bo that Mr..Field heard of this incidout, and concluded that .if Mr. iSsmplt' wasn't the fjentlcinari who to id it, he ought, to havo lieen. However, tho statement wns characteristic of Mr. Field, and not nuy more unreliable than tho remainder of his charges against the Labor movement and Labor men. ' STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE. Mr. Field made a statement that did not contain t-ho elements of truth when ho declared that tho Stockholm Conference was "German-arranged." A glanco a.t the .facts will rcvcol what a colossal lack bf information Mr. Field has brought to bear on itho situation. As overyoni! (Mr. Field excepted) knows, tho International Socialist bureau —with which tho world's political Socialist and Lahor parties aro aflili- ! aited —had its headquarters hi Brussels up to the declaration of war. Its president was Emilo Vanderveldo, leader of tho Belgian Socialists- in Parliament, and its secretary was Camillo Huysmaji, also a -member of tho Belgian l'a-rliamcnt. Afßcr tho invasion of Belgium, tho headquarters of tho Bureau was transferred to Tho Hague; and tho conduct of its business was entrusted to ithe Dutch Socialist Party. At first, although repeated demands wore forthcoming—especially from the ! affiliations in Britain and tho neultral countries —that the Bureau should meet, this was held to be impossible. BRANTINC LEADS THE MOVEMENT. I The Russian devolution came, however, aud created an altogether new 'situation; and t-ho Dnitch and Scandinavian Socialists, after a> number of conferences, decided to summon an International Socialist Conferciico at Stockholm. Tho movement for this i Conference was led by Brajitiujj, tho 1 leader of tho Swedish Socialist Party in Parliament. BRANTING IS UNCOMPUOMISINGLY ANTII-GERMAN ; HE IS STRONGLY PRO-ENTENTE; aud has been denounced accordingly by German jingoes. Both the German and Austrian Socialist Parties —majority and minority—readily accepted the invitation to attend—'they could not have done ahyhing elso without belying their Socialist professions—and this fact was seized by certain enemies of Peace to cast suspicion on tho movement, which was eventually (and unwisely) disclaimed by ihc French Majority tSocialia'bs and tho British Labor Party, although it was eagerly accepted by tho. French' Minority Socialists, and the British Independent I/abor Party, tho British Socialist Parity, and ofther Socialist organisations. . Tho original da-lri of the Conferenco had been fixed for May, Jriit tho attitude of the British and French Majorities rendered its effective holding in tha:t mouth an impossibility. A RUSSIAN PROCLAMATION. However, the situation became entirely changed when, on March i>B, the Russian Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' delegates, sitting at l'ctrograd, issued a proclamation in which they called upon tho peoples of the world to speak over.tho heads of their Governments, and take united adtion in favour of Peace. On May 9 tho Exccutivo of the Council wont a step further, and DECIDED TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN SUMMONING AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, and on. May 15 tho RUSSIAN WORKMEN AND SOLDIERS issued an appeal to the Socialists of nil countries calling on I them to send delegates. WHAT BECOMES OF MR. FIELD'S "GERMAN-CALLED CONFERENCE AT STOCKHOLM" IN THE LfIGHT OF THESE FACTS? As we havo said the original date fixed was in May; but, after tho first Russian message it wns postponed, at Ibhe request of the French Minority Socialits, who hoped to convoit/ ,, the Majority. In this the Minority was strikingly successful. Two members of tho French Majority wore sent io Russia to endeavor io convert tho Russian Socialists to 'tht> views of the French opponents of the Conforenco ; but these two delegates returned in time for the meeting of the French Council, themselves converted to the Russian Socialist, viewpoint, and their speeches turned iho day. YANDERVELOE SUPPORTS CONFERENCE. M. VANDERVELDE, BELGIAN MINISTER OF MUNITIONS, TELEi GRAPHED TO THE FRENCH MAJORITY SOCIALISTS, ADVISING THEM TO SEND DELEGATES TO STOCKHOLM, and for the first time since tho war the crowd outside the Party "Hall was heard singing tho "Inimiation?!*." And u-hon M. Lonyuet went out to report THE UNANIMOUS DECISION OF THE COUNCIL, AND SAID: "WE ARE GOING TO STOCKHOLM TO MAKE PEACE," he was cheered to the echo.

UNDER RUSSIAN AUSPICES.

Tho nosition now is that THE INTERNATTONAL CONFERENCE AT STOCKHOLM. TS TO BE HELD UNDER RUSSIAN AUKPICKS, AND WILL BE PRESIDED OVER BY A MEMBER OF THE RUSSIAN COUNCIL OF WORKMEN AND SOLDIERS. The secretary of the Conference will bo a BELGIAN MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, CAMILLE 11UYSMANS; and tin . Conference uill be international in every sense of tho word. Tho British Labor Party has decided by an overwhelming majority to ho represented; and practically all tho o'tiier political Labor and Socialist Parties of tho world have endorsed the Conference. WHAT, THEN, AYE MAY ASK AGAIN, BECOMES , OF THE STUPID, IGNORANT CHARGE OF THE "GER-MAN-CALLED CONFERENCE AT STOCKHOLM"? THE AUSTRALIAN MOVEMENT LIBELLED. After slandering tho N.Z. movement Mr. Field proceeds to libel the Labor movement in Australia, and in doing so ho makes uso of ono of thoso hull truths which aro always worso Ithan a wholo lie. He endeavors .to mako it appear that tho then secretary of the political Labor movement in N.S.W., Senator Granifc, wrote a letter to a German Company in Sydney for funds to fight Conscription, land also asking for tho names of persons likely to help. Twice Mr. Field refers to "tho letter." We leave it to Mr. Fkld himself to nay if it wouldn't have b-acn better to havo tola tho wholo truth about that matter, if ho wished to mention it at all. Wo emphatically say that tho way ho mentioned it was not-tho method an ' honorable man.ought to-havo omployod. For even Mr. Field musit havo'known that the document he referred to was not a letter in tho .ordinary sense, but a typo-prinjted circular, sent out in.; tens of thousands to firms and individuals all over Australia, soliciting financial assistance in the fight against Prussian Militarism, and 'that when one of these circulars was discovered among the papers of the firm referred to—the said firm having been declared an "enemy firm ,, —the incident was dishonestly seized by Mr. W. M. Hughes and tho other opponents of Labor, who sought to use it to mako tho peoplo beliovo that German money was being solicited by (tho Labor movement. There was never anything moro utterly -unworthy and dishonest in Australian politics than Uie conduct of Mr. Hughes and certain of his supporters in connection with this circular. If Mr. Field was unaware that (the '"letter" ho referred to was a "circular" sent almost indiscriminately ti> thousands of peoplo, and if ho made his statement without taking the trouble, to know what he was talking about, what shall bo said of Ms fitness to figure, as a member of the legislature? If, on tho other haiid, Mr. Field knew all tho facts, and still mad© his misleading .(end likely to bo damaging) statement, how eha.ll wo doscribo his idea, of -what constitutes honorable conduct? DOES MR. FIELD UPHOLD LAWBREAKINC? Wilien Mr. Field upholds the action of Mr? Havclock Wilson and* thoso associated with him. IS HE AWARE THAT THESE MEN WERE ACTUALLY LAV-BREAKERS? Tho lliifrsian Government had given its endorsement to tho action ■ of the. Russian Workmen and Soldiersaml tho British Government had added its endorsement. Messrs. MacDonnld and Jowett wore going away with the full authority of tho British Government. And not only so, but of itho British Majority were also going. The objection of Mr. Havelock Wilson and his employers was not that thoso Labor, men were .going to a "Gorman-arranged" Conference; their objection was only :to Messrs. MacDonnld and Jowctfc going. THEY WERE QUITE AVILIfING THAT THE OTH FJ?- MEN SHO OLD' GO. So that by their own action itho law-breakers whom Mr. Field defends give the Ho to Mr. Field's charge that it was a "Gwmaii-arranged Conference alb Stockholm." Tho fact remains that when Mr. Haveiock Wilson and his confederates conspired to prevent a. boa.t from sailing which the British Government had* ordered to sail, they were deliberately breaking tho law of England, as made and interpreted and administered by the statesmen of England. AND A NEW ZEALAND LEGISLATOR AND LAWMAKER' UPHOLDS THEIR LAW-BREAKING! Mr. Havclock Wilson and his Confederates were not only insolently and traitorously ibreakin.ee tho British law and blackkgging on t.he world's Labor movement; they were deliberately inRixlt.ni.cr the Russian people—by whose Council the Stockholm Conference was being organised. What shall bo said of tho folly that impels a badly-informed, vaporing member of the N.Z. Parliamerlt to mako this country feel ridiculous by applauding theso lawbreakers and condemning thoso who sought to uphold tho law? GERMAN OPPONENTS OF STOCKHOLM. lit should interest Mr. Field and the Tories —and it WILL interest the workers—to know that Mr. Field does not sltand ylono in his condemnation of tho Stockholm Conference. The anti-Socialist press of Germany joins its voice to Mr. Field's —only with a. different although equally untruthful charge. Mr. Field Bays the Stockholm Conference is "German-ar-ranged." Some, of the German militarist papers object.to it becauso Branting—the Swedish pro-Allies Socialist — was its chief organiser. For in-

stance («•««. learn from British papere) tho "Doiitsclio Tagcs-Zcitung" says:

"iSchiedeniaau , should now be convinced that ho has made a. gross mistake in going to tho Stockholm Conference, THE PRINCIPAL OltGANISER OF WHICH IS AN AVOWED ENEMY OF GERMANY. 'ITio Majority leader flattered himself on being able to play the role of being , a . grwi.t. diplomat—he should ho discnclioJitctl by now." Other militarist papers of Germany attempted to make it appear that Franco was behind tho Conference. The "Koelnisoho Volkzeitung" .said when tho French Socialists endorsed tho Conforence: "THE FRENCH • SOCIALISTS 'ARE. AT THE ORDER OF POINCAR.E WHO HAS CONCOCTED STOCKHOLM FOR THE PURPOSE OF SNATCHIN THE FRUITS OF VICTORY FROM GERMANY." The same paper lalsoinsis'ted that tho Stockholm Conference was "a great deception foi ; Itlio German Socialists," and declared: • ' > "Our people will rejoicn at tho check sustained by Schoidcmann be-' cause of tho great moral olfecL it will have on our jtvoops,' who will .henceforth only look forward to a victorious peace." Mr. Field will be able lo sco that 'there isn't much difference between tho objections of the German militarists and those of our own militarists to the Stockholm Conference . : A RUSSIAN INVITATION. The following copy of a telegra-m ro-. ceived by tho British Independent Labor Patfty on June 23, 1917; doesn't need comment , . It shows whero Russia sta.uds in its appreciation of Messrs. Mac Donald and Jowett: Executive- Committee of Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates expresses its deep respect i<> Comrades Mac Donald and Jowett, und cordially invites ithein to visit Petrograd and com© in touch with the revolutionary democracy of Russia.—TCHEIDZE, Chairman. IN CONCLUSION. We do not know whaib Mr. Field means (when ho says that they (meaning apparently ."The Worker") "suppress part of ■» letter which it did , not suit them to pub in." And thero are a number of aspects of Mr. Field's speech with which the space at'our

disposal does nob mnko it possible for us to deal. "... ■ "■.,:.

But onco again we would remind Mr. Field of the immense .trouble which overiJook him when he. previously made tho mistake of handling the trufch carelessly—when ho set ou)t to tell the people that the N.Z. Labor movement had its headquarters -in Berlin. Who is to say "to what lengths the hysteria of this badly-informed, recklessi-tongued pfensan may not lead him. Who knows that we may not yet find him assailing royalty • on tho throne, and alleging -r — Bulb,' there; Wihat need is there.: to say anything mpro atout the verbose flounderings and mental gymnastics of Mr. Field? ' '■ ' '■~: '- ;;. ' Evory electorate gets, intellectually speaking, exactly the sort of representative it deserves —and Nelson is no exception to tho mle. . ' For which reason this paper sympathises* with Kolson; and invitee Mr. Field to explain why from his phtoein he made statementa. that would not bear investigation.