NEUTRAL SOCIALISTS PUT BLAME ON GERMANY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11700, 21 October 1916, Page 7

NEUTRAL SOCIALISTS PUT BLAME ON GERMANY.

AS THE AGGRESSOR IN THE

great war

QUESTIONS OF SERVIA, POLAND AND ALSACE-LORRAINE.

M. Branting, the Swedish Socialist leader, has passed through London on his way back to Stockholm from the conference of neutral Socialists

at The Hague, and was interviewed by a Daily Chronicle representative. In the Socialist world M. Branting holds at present a position of eminence that is rivalled only by M. Vandervelde, the Belgian leader. In 1896 he was the only Socialist in the Swedish Parliament; to-day he commands a solid Socialist phalanx that is the strongest party in the State. Sober students of Swedish politics prophesy the Premiership for him at no very distant date.

But M. Branting stands, above all, for neutral Socialism, of which he is the most prominent spokesman. The Socialists of Sweden and the other neutral countries have never lost tonch with their fellow Sacialists in the belligerent countries; they are not inflamed with national animosities and prejudices, though they may have their sympathies—M. Branting, for example, does not disguise bis special feeling for the Western democracies—and they 7 consequent^7 constitute a body of opinion that is singularly responsible, impartial, and just. In so far, then, as the neutral conference at Tne Hague made pronouncements on the issue of the war, its decisions must be regarded as possessing an exceptional authority. approaching, and perhaps, antij cipating, the verdict of history. As M. Branting showed, certain of its pronouncements were extremely significant. FAILURE OF HUN ATTACK. “The conference,” he said, ‘‘passed two resolutions—cue political and the other economic. The latter was a restatement of the case for international Free Trade, both on its merits and also because it is a powerful means of avoiding future wars. But the political resolution was the more important, and it may, perhaps, be said to mars a turning point.

‘‘lt is a long resolution, covering the whole political field from the Socialist point of view, and it had necessarily to be worded carefully. It is a “delicate matter for neutral Socialists, linked up, as they are, with their fellow Socialists in all belligerent countries, and responsible in an exceptional degree for the maintenance of the international movement, to pronounce verdicts on the issues of the hour; still more so to pronounce verdicts that would receive the unanimous assent of the conference. Yet, in fact, verdicts of the highest importance were pronounced, and did receive a unanimous vote.

“In the first place Germany was definitely put into theposition of the aggressor. ‘Notwithstanding the present warmap,’ runs one clause, ‘the attack on the countries which were forced to take up arms in defence appears to be a failure. ’ Hero we have not merely a repudiation of German military claims, as put forward by the Chancellor, we have an express statement that an attack has been mdae which had to he resisted. It is impossible to overrate the significance of this verdict.

“Other points in the resolution are, first a demand ‘for tin- restitution of Belgium as an independent Stale.’ This, it is declared, must be a necessary preliminary to any peace negotiations. ” “What do you gather German intentions to be in rega.-d to Belgium?”

“Germany means to retain, if she can, at least commercial supremacy. Commercially 7, Belgium is to become a sort of vassal State.

“Similarly, The Hague Congress demands the ‘restitution of Servia,’ and the ‘creation of an autonomous Poland.’ But still more significant —as coinciding with the exxiresscc’ aims of the Allies—is the expression of a desire by the Congress ‘that the German Social Democratic party will bo ready to negotiate with the French party about the question of Alsace-Lorraine. As you are aware, the Socialist majority in Germany refuse to admit even that such a question exists. They are now asked to recognise that the problem of Alsace-Lorraine is a real one and needs solution. ” BRITISH AIMS CLEAR.

“What is the immediate task of Socialism?” M. Branting was asked. “‘ln every country the Socialists must endeavour to obtain from their statesmen a more precise and definite statement of the national aims in the war. That matter will probably come up at the Allied Socialist Conference in September. Mr Asquith and Viscount Grey have already explained their aims. There is little to complain of in tiiis respect in regard to England, despite the dissatisfaction that seems to be felt by a section of opinion. British statesmen seem to us to have formulated their purpose as distinctly as the situation permits. French statesmen are far from being so satisfactory in the opinion of our French comrades, who constantly contrast the clear and explicit utterances of Mr Asquith and Lord Grey with those of M. Briand and particularly of President Poincaire. “The Gorman Chancellor, on the other hand, is vague in the extreme, and the only thing that one can deduce with any certainty from In's phrases is the intention to establish some sort of commercial domination over Belgium. This insistence upon a more definite statement of peace terms is the mors necessary in view of the ignorance in which the German people has been kept. “