INTER-ALLIED SOCIALIST AND LABOUR CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 19

INTER-ALLIED SOCIALIST AND LABOUR CONFERENCE.

The Inter-allied Socialist and Labour Conference met in London on the under the presidency of Mr Arthur Henderson, M.P. Delegates from France, Russia, Italy. Greece, Portugal, Belgium, and South Africa were present. Tho delegates includo M. Thomas (French Minister of Munitions),

M. Renaudel (editor of the Shumanite), Jean Lonuet (Karl Marx's grandson), Ai. Vanderveido (Belgian), M. Boussauoif (a Russian revolutionary exile). JSome of the Pacifist proposals, of which notice was given, were of an amazing cnaracter, including one tliat the future ot Alsace and Lorraine shoud bo referred to tno decision of a referendum of the people of the two provinces on the ground that noitlier Germany nor France has tno right to decide the question. _ The British .Socialist party proposed that the peoples of India. Egypt, Ireland, and Algiers should bo free to decide their own course. A proposal relating to indemnities said that there is a common responsibility for tiio war, and therefore the proposal to throw the cost of reparation on one Bower must bo abandoned. Reparation must bo from a common fund for internal control. While there must bo recompense for loss and damage to property, the administrators must also accord tho working olass an equal titlo to reparation. Tho Pacdtist proposals regarding the colonies stated that the conference holds that the peace of tho world is not preserved if oiii! great Power is debarred from colonial rights. A curious episode was that a memorandum had been prepared for the conference welcoming American intervention on the ground of united old and new worlds in the defence of democracy. Tho Independent labourites proposed to delete these re- ' ferenoes to the United States. The resolutions were discussed privately, and only tho result of the voting made known. Mr Henderson opened the conference with an address, in which ho declared that momentous issues depended on its decision. Tho speeches of tho French delegates indicated wide differences on many important points, notably the Stockholm Conference. They declined representation on a commission which the conference appointed to deal with this object. A commission was also appointed to deal generally with peace terms. The Socialist Conference has concluded. The official report says tho commission's report was supported generally by France, Britain, Italy, Portugal, and Russia, while South Africa, Belgium, and a French majority opposed it. As unanimity was not reached, the report was merely recorded. Tho conference decided to hold another Allied conference in preparation for the Stockholm Conference. The International Socialists in Korea have sent congratulations on the initiation of a conference with tho object of bringing about peace. They point out that Balkan questions precipitated this war, and similarly Korean questions may provoke the next war if Korea remains enslaved. SOCIALISTS' MANIFESTO. Mr Arthur Henderson, M.P., M. Vandervelde, M. Thomas, and other British, French, and Belgian delegates to the Socialist Conference in London have issued a manifesto, in order to avoid misunderstanding, owing to the conference's failure to agree on the principal questions discussed. The manifesto states that the policy of Imperialism and the antagonistic tendencies which divide society in capitalistic countries caused tho war. The victory of the German Imperialists would mean the annilation of Democracy and Liberty throughout the world. The Russian revolution has not yet stirred up a rising of popular forces in Austria and Germany; but instead tho new Russian democracy is being compelled to defend itself against renewed aggression by the "Tsars" at Vienna and Berlin. The Russian peace formula needs clearer definition. Peace without indemnities should not exclude just compensation and damages. Peace without annexations cannot exclude the disannexation of territories conquered by force. The war for right must not be permitted to become a war of conquest. The Austro-Germans cannot expect any effective effort towards peace until a substitute is found for the present Governments, in a democratic regime senl-'ng the defeat of militarism. Then it will be the duty of Socialists throughout the world to prevent the Allied Governments from crushing tho new Austro-German democracies. The British Press Bureau reports that the Gcumans for a considerable time urged the Belgian Socialists in Belgium to participate in the Stockholm Conference, but the latter pointed out that it was impossible without a mandate from the party at a meeting at which a free expression of views was allowed. Ultimately the Germans consented to a meeting, which declined, with two dissent;ents. to attend the conference, even though British, French, and Italian delegates attended. The Allies' Socialist Conference defeated, by 55 votes to 4. a motion not to send delegates to Stockholm while Germany occupies ,\h--- c ] territory. The Parliamentary Committee of tho Trndcs Union Conference decided that a conference at. Stockholm cannot, be sucoe'ssful at present. It recommends that the first step is to secure a general agreement among the workers of tho Allied nations: ther> an international congress would be a great service. Tho official report of tho Socialist Conference discloses that the Stockholm Conference cannot be held until September 9. owuig to passport difficulties. In view of the result of the London Conference, the organisers of the Stockholm Conference have fully I abandoned tb* -Vlnof meotmg on the 9th, and adjourned indefinitely. ALLIED FEDERATION OF LABOUR, Tho following cablegram from London was received in Christchureh on the 29th ult. by Mr Hiram Hunter (national secretary and treasurer of the Un : fed Federation o f Labour): "Has your federation anybody in England whom it could delecrate to attend the conference of representatives of the Allied national federations of trades unions in London on September 10?—Appleton (General Federation. London)." The following reply has been forwarded: "Thanks; yes: ask Mr Ramsay Macdonald to represent New Zealand." BOMBING AT THE FRONT. Several additional instances are reported of the Germans intentionally shelling hospitals at the front and the casualty stations. A Melbourne doctor states: "I wns attending to our boys, when the Huns deliberately shelled our station. Twenty shells dropped in our camp within four hours. One fell yesterday between two wards which wo had only emptied five minutes earlier.''

HONOURS FOR GALLANTRY. The Victoria Cross has been awarded to Skipper Joseph Watt, Royai Naval Reserve. He commanded the drifter Gowantea when three Austrian light cruisers, on May 15, attacked 48 British drifters watching antisubmarine nets in the Strait of Otranto, the entrance to the Adriatic. When ono of the enemy cruisers had approached within 100 yards range Captain Watt ordered; full speed, and fought cruiser with his ono gun until the gun was disabled. The Gowantea escaped, and afterwards removed the dead and woundedi from another badly-damageq drifter. Many other officers have received honours for gallantry in the same action. Flight Squadron Commander Savory has been awarded a bar to the Distinguished Service Order for bombing the Goeben at Constantinople on June 9. LIMBLESS SOLDIERS. Sir Thomas Mackenzie and General Richardson conferred with the limbless New Zealanders at Walton-on-Tha,me3 to ascertain their views regarding training for futura vocations. Many favoured learning before leaving England. The men will discuss the subject further and report to Sir Thomas Mackenzie. Tho latter suggested seed culture as a suitable occupation offering groat prospects in New Zealand. GENERAL NEWS. M. Malvy _ (French Minister of the Interior) has 'resigned. Tiie first huge American aircraft fleet has safely arrived in France. The victims of tho fire at Kazan number several thousand killed and injured Another largo factory in the Okhta suburbs was burned, the damage totalling several million roubles. Incendiarism is suspected. ■' Eleven _ Germans who had escaped from oustody in England have been recaptured. Switzerland has agreed to reduce the exportation of 46,000 quintals of chocolate to the Central Powers to 24,000 quintals, and the surplus will be diverted to the Allies. The Social-Demokraten states that Norway has foodstuffs for only a month's consumption, and import prospects are very dark. It urges the Government to seize private stock and control their distribution. Advices from the Argentine state that Captain von Papen is directing the German espionage system at Buenos Aires. At Yankton, South Dakota, 30 Germans: have been arrested for opposing the war draft. Germany has committed another breach of faith with Poland. The Polish National Council, formed under German auspices, has resigned owing to a German order sending the so-called Polish Legion to the Austrian front in defiance of tho agreement. Rear-admiral Tudor states that tanks were really invented and tested by Admiralty officers. The British war effort had now reached a condition of balance where tho entire Empire acted harmoniously. The empire Resources Development Committee is considering a scheme for the postwar distribution of # the population by the promotion of colonisation by means of the selection, training, and financing of intending settlers by land banks. The committee considers that the State should receive a proportion of the ultimate profits.' ATJTRALIAN ITEMS. A new war precautions regulation makes it an offence to interfere with shearing or the loading of wool. A further regulation empowers the Governor-general to strike off the register any organisations which engage in a strike. In the House of Representatives, when tho War Profits Bill was being considered, Sir John Forrest (Treasurer) announced thai business would not be taxed unless their profits exceeded £IOOO. The professions would be excluded.