SOCIALIST CONFERENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16903, 16 July 1918, Page 5

SOCIALIST CONFERENCES.

DISCUSSION OF WAR AIMS. VIEWS OF ENEMY PARTIES. A. and NZ. LONDON, July 14. Mr. Arthur Henderson, speaking at the Northampton Conference of Labour Organisations, said that five replies had been received from Socialists in enemy countries to the memorandum from the Inter-Allied Socialist Conference on war aims. The Bulgarian Socialists accepted practically all the general points concerning Macedonia. The Hungarian Socialists and also the German Minority Socialists had submitted to the Stockholm committee of the International Socialist Conference a statement of policy much on the lines of the Inter-Allied memorandum. The Austrian Socialists accepted the principles of the Inter-Allied memorandum as a basis for discussion. They endorsed the Federal system for Austria-Hungary, agreed to the suggestion for a federation of Balkan States, and declared that they had always repudiated tho Brest Litovsk and Roumanian treaties. They agreed that' a solution of the Italian, Polish,

Colonial and Alsace-Lorraine questions must conform with the desires of the people concerned. The German Majority Socialists drew up a document which they entrusted to Troelstra, the Dutch Socialist, to present to the British Labour Conference. The action of the British Government in refusing Troelstra permission to land prevented this document reaching Britain, but a summary had been received showing that the German Majority Socialists were ready to take part in an International Socialist Convention on the basis of proposals which the neutral Stockholm Socialists had drawn up. They also accepted practically all the general principles of the Inter-Allied memorandum, and were ready to discuss responsibility for the war, though they did not believe that any good would result from such a discussion. They were prepared to discuss tho Alsace-Lorraine problem, believing that an amicable solution was possible. They agreed with the necessity for the complete restoration of Belgium's independence, and declared a League of Nations necessary to destroy Imperialism and prevent aggression. Mf. Henderson contended that the replies justified the demand for facilities for holding an International Socialist Conference, which would help to clear away misunderstandings and misconceptions and Strengthen the will for peace in enemy countries. The conference would show the people of the Central Empires that their ruiers misled and deceived them. It would not attempt to negotiate peace or to make binding decisions.