Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 74, 25 February 1918, Page 5

Great Britain

INTER-ALLIED SOCIALISTS.

CONFERENCE PROCEEDING.

Pveas Association—Copyright, Austn

lian and H.Z. Cable Association

London, February 23

Mr Albert Thomas is president of the .Socialist conference, which incitules representatives from France, Italy, Roumania, South Africa, and the Southern Slavs. Mr Thomas said the conference must show itself able to reach an agreement on the war aims, which the Allied Governments had failed to do.

The Daily Telegraph states that the Trade XTnioiis are considering the advisability of separating from Socialist organisations and establishing a trade, union labor party, owing to their resentment of the pacifist attacks on trade union officials who, while members of Parliament and Ministers, advocated the prosecution of the war. The Conference has agreed to the suppression of secret diplomacy, and placing the foreign policy in the hands of a league of nations commission. In considering territorial adjustments, the conference was unable to reach anything like unanimity. The British Trade Union delegates entered a vigorous protest against some of the proposed territorial adjustments. They • ridicule the French proposals regarding the German colonies.

Van de Velde, the Belgian Minister, who is presiding, declared that we cannot ignore - the fact'that the Bolsheviks have discredited Russia in-

ternationally, but we must not forget what the Russian revolution has done for internationalism and Socialism. The great lesson to be derived is that democracy would commit an irretrievable mistake by throwing away its arms before imperialism is defeated.

The Conference has agreed .to the memorandum of its war aims,' declaring that the peoples of Europe are the chief sufferers of the war, though not responsible for the outbreak ; ano that the invasion of Belgium ana France threatens the very existence of independent nationalities, and strikes a blow at the faith of treatiestherefore a victorious German imperialism would mean the defeat and destruction of European democracy and liberty. Socialists are not warring with the Austro-German peopled, but with the Governments which oppose them. While inflexibly resolved to light until the task of liberation is achieved, the Socialists oppose a war of conquest. The conference has appointed Messrs Henderson, Albert Thomas and Van dor Velde a commission to endeavor to secure from the Allied Governments an agreement that at least one representative of Labor and Socialism shall participate in the peace conference. COMPLETE AGREEMENT ON WAR ASMS, Cress Association—Copyright, Australian ano N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 9.30 a.m.)) London, February 24. The Inter-Allied Socialist Conference has ended. It reached complete agreement on the war aims, and is taking steps to notify its decisions to the Socialist parties in the Central Empires, and is sending a delegation to confer with President Wilson.

THE IRREDUCIBLE MINIMA.

NO OLIVE BRANCH FROM

LABOR.

SWORD MUST BE SHEATHED.

r Tosb Assooalioa—Copyrignt. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 9.30 a.m.) London February 24. Mr Compers, at a farewell luncheon at Tviiicli Mr A. H. Henderson, presided, expressed gratification that the Conference had substantially accepted British Labour’s war aims. The Conference had decided for the absolute freedom and integrity of Belgium, Servia, Roumania, and Montenegro, and that every territorial charge be based on Justice and Right making for the permanent of the world’s peace. “These,” he said, “are our irreducible minima t and when they are secured, we desire to begin the fullest intercourse among all nations. We repudiate every attempt to institute the economic boycott or commercial and financial isolation of Germany. The conflict can only be ended in three ways, namely, by militarism, exhaustion, or conciliation. We are convinced all the bel i ligerents must eventually resort toj conciliation. Nothing is further from the truth than the allegation that Labour is only concerned inj holding out the olive branch to the, enemy. We null not negotiate with i the olive branch while au enemy hand holds the sword. Roth sides, must be prepared to abandon militarism before a settlement is possible,” FOOD AND SHIPPING. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association ] (Received 8.50 a.m.) London, February 24. The Observer states the War Cabinet. has decided that food imports shall now have priority over all other wav demands in. a lie canine- tibe ship-

50,000 MINERS FOR CLASS M Press Association—Copyright, Austi lian and N.Z. Cable Association j (Received 9.45 a.m.) I London, February 24| The Durham miners decided to si port the man-power proposal and ply 50,000 Class A men selected I the miners’ organisations. I GENERAL ITEMS. j London, February 24. J Importance is attached to the Jd anese Ambassador’s interview wij Mr Balfour. j The president of the Scottish mil ers’ conference has announced thj large majorities of various miniij districts have bnllotted against t| Government’s man-power proposals A meeting of the Imperial Wj Graves. Commission approved the r port of Lieutenant-Colonel Kenyoa making a recommendation for equal ity of treatment of the headstones fd officers and men, the Government i bear the cost of the outlay and malt tenanee. It is stated that some, not all. of the dominions would d aide on a form of headstone represei] ting the dominion rather than tc individual, :