INTER-ALLIED SOCIALIST CONFERENCE

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11471, 25 February 1918, Page 5

INTER-ALLIED SOCIALIST CONFERENCE

SGiVIE IMPORTANT DECISIONS.

United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright London FebT 22.

The Inter-Allied Socialist Conference agreed with the suppression of secret diplomacy and the placing of loreigu policy in the hands of a league of nations The commission which is considering territorial adjustments was unahle to reach anything like unauimitv.

British trade union delegates entered a vigorous protest against some of the proposed territorial adjustments. They ridiculed French proposals regarding German colonies.

Van dor Velde, the Belgian Minister who presided, declared: Wo cannot ignore the fact that the Bolsheviks are discredited Russian internationalist Socialists, hut we must not forget what the. Russian Revolution lias done for internationalism bml Socialism. The great lesson derived is that democracy would commit an irretrievable mistake hy throwing away its urns before Imperialism is defeated. The Conference agreed to the memorandum of war aims, declaring that the people of Europe are the chief sufferers by the war, though not responsible for the outbreak. The invasion of Belgium and France threatens the very existence of independontJnMtionulitie.s, and strikes a Mow at the faith of treaties. Therefore victorious German Imperialism would mean tiie defeat ami destruction of European democracy and liberty. Socialists are not warring with the Austro-Gorman peoples, but the Governments who oppose them. While inflexibly resolved to light until the task of liberation is achieved. Socialists oppose a war of conquest.

The conference appointed Mr Henderson, Mr Albert Thomss, and M. Van der Velde a commission to endeavour to secure from the Allied Governments an agreement that at least one representative of Labour and Socialism shall participate in dm Peace Conference.