PEACE TALK.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16311, 13 August 1917, Page 8

PEACE TALK.

STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE. BRITISH DELEGATES TO ATTEND. "WITH LIMITED POWERS. Reuter's Telegrams. Received 6 p.m.. August 11th. , LONDON, August 10. At th» Labour Conference over six niuulrea delegates were present, also Tiussian representatives. MR. HENDERSON S VIEW'S. Mr A. Henderson (Labour mem lie:' of the War Cabinet), addressing the Labour Conference, said the Russians ■wanted a binding conference to discuss peace terms. He pointed out to them that only the Government could negotiate i'or peace. The finding of the Conference was inevitable. He considered it inadvisable and dangerous for the Russians to confer with the euomy without- hearing ti\,' BritUh side. He made no alteration in his lercnimendation to allow the British delegates to attend, provided satisfactory conditions were laid down. Iff believed a consultative conference would be productive of good, and would cuabls the German Minority Socialists to inform the German people of 'British fncts that have been withheld frorr their knowledge. INTERESTING DISCI SSION. Received .3.5 p.m., August 12th. The chairman. Mr W. F. Pnrdy. saic no peace would be satisfactory whicl did not secure freedom from the night marc of aggreusive militarism. Neithei Britain nor Russia wanted a separate peace. They must stand shoulder t< shoulder until a righteous peace wa: obtained. Mr Smilylie (miners' fedenrion* sug gested that the Executive should an proach the American and Belcria n La hour movements and get thorn also t send delegates to Stockhom. Tlio;

should also request the Dominions to send two representatives each. The chairman replied that the sug- ' gestion would be considered. IMr Robinson (textile workers) moved that the meeting should accept the in- , vitaticn to the Stockholm Conference ' provided it was consultative and not ' mandatory. ■ Mr Carter (minors) seconded the motion. | Mr Sexton (dockers) moved an ! amendment that, while agreeing that i Mr Henderson was actuated by a sin- ; cere desire to serve the best interest' : of the British democracy, the Confercifco was of opinion that no case ha 1 been made out for the appointment ot" delegates to a Conference including delegates from enemy countvies. and that the Conference should adjourn sin.> die. Mr Sexton said he had always lieen loyal to the executive, hut there were times when loyalty to the executive meant treason to the rank and . file. The resolution meant such tn-a- . son. AVhen the Germans repudiated their crimes his objection to meeting _- them v.ould disappear. ;■ Mr Barnes. Labour M.P.. enmmont- . ina on the absence of America. Rei- ; '/mir.. France and Italy from Stctk- >■ holm, .-aid that if the British reprei ESntntives went they would discuss 5 questions with Germans on the one i hand and Russians on the other, with - the Dutch and Scandinavians in the ». position of a makeweight in voting for i peace on any terms. Th 0 difference I between mandatory and consultative s was very small, v If they went, whol thcr in one or the other position, th'.' l remit would be the same. He asked '. whether the present was the best time Ito disc uss terms of peace. (Cries oi | "No" a"d "Yes' 1 ). Mr G. Roberts. Labour M.P.. con sideied the Stockholm Conference \va< 1 calculated to injure M. Kerenski's Oo 1 vcinment and sow dissensions. There was a great iiiiroar when Mi l * Ramsay Macdonald rose to support the 0 resolution, and a passage at arms oc 0 curred between Mr 'Will Thoriic one s Mr Macdonald. The chairman fie 1 r ivent!y called the meeting to order : - k'eernng it well in hand. '- The Conference bv 1 .fio] .000 to Sfil . '- 30f> votes rejected Mr Sexton's amend ° ment. and adopted the main lvsolutioi v by i s.'.ti.i. ■::) to SoO.nrx'i

Delegates will therefore attend the 1 Stockholm Conference, but the terms r of the resolution, making the Confer- i riic.i non-mandatory, will deprive tht. i Stockholm gathering of the importance once a/ssigned to it. SEAMEN'S UNION. DEMAND A REFERENDUM. Mr Hnveloek Wilson, secretary of bho Seamen's Federation, is calling a meeting of trade union leaders to consider the convening of another conference or Thursday, demanding a trade union referendum before sending delegates to Stockholm. SOME PRESS OPINIONS. The "Daily Chronicle" considers that: I he holding of a Stockholm Conference! is unlikely, as Russian Socialists want! om\.l-ind. British labour another, and! Franco-Belgians a third, namely a mar.-| datory conference on a restricted! agenda, previously defined by agree-' ment. The '"Daily Telegraph" fails to fee! how a British delegation can possibly' proceed in view of Russia's insistence ; on a mandatory conference Moreover Mr Henderson, whilst at Pptrograd. insisted that all the Allies must he represented, whereas Belgium, France, Italy and America will be absent. ■, MR HENDERSON BLUNDERED. j REBUKED BY : THE PRIME ! j MNISTER. MP, HENDERSON WITHHOLDS REPLY. | Australian and X.Z. Cable Assn. and Renter. Received 11.5 p.m.. August 12th. LONDON, Aimust "H. Correspondence between Mr Lloyd : George and Mr Henderson regarding "Mr Henderson's resignation is pnb- , lisliod.

-<U Henderson, in tendering he- resignation. wrote 1 :—"I" share your desicle to have the war carried lo a. suc--I'i'ssi'i:! ((inclusion.'' }fr Lloyd George in liis reply intimat;»u that the King accepted Mr Ronresignation, says: —'•Tlioro are terrrdn facts -nit]>_ which T-he public should lie acquainted in order to form a correct appreciation of rhr- event:; which have led to this regrettable con-:-!ii«!on. Your colleagues were completely taken by surprise by the attitude you adopted at the Labour Conierenee. 1 was under the impression that yen meant to use your influence against meeting; enemy representatives at the Stockholm Conference. Tim was aLo the impression of your Cabinet • "'leagues, and. of your La'-.-.uir col- ! leagues. Surely this was a < ouelusion ! v.liireon you should have informed tho . Cabinet- before entering the Labour C'oiileit nee. as yon were not .1 niemb.'-r of tlie Labour party but a member of t!:e Cabinet, responsible for the war. Never!heh-v. you did not deem ■;■ iiii-isi;ip' 10 inform the Conference cif the views of vour colleagues, and tin- delegates were necordingly justiiiod in :is.<ii!ning that the aiivic-' you gave was net incoii.-i.itont with their i -pinions." Mr Lloyd Ceorge then points out that, the Covfi'timont- had received an iinpo: taut- official communication from the llussiau Government, stating that t

although ii. was not deemed possible to

proven:!- Russian delegates attendingi the .Stockholm Conference, its decisions would in no wise he binding on the liberty of action of the Biissian Government.

The covering letter added: ''l hasten to lay '.his information before yon; as I the impression hitherto prevailed that Russia ardently desired th Q Stockholm Conference, and this argument has been put forward in order to influence. British public opinion in favour of the Labour and Socialist parties of Britain participating in the Conference."

Mr Lloyd George adds: "1 immediately sent this communication to you, •with a request that you communicate it to the La'oour Coference. You omitted to do so, though of courso your speech made a very casxial reference to some modification of the attitude of the Russian Government. In these circumstances your action does not appear to have been fair, either to the Government ov to the delegates. You, in addressing them, left them in ignorance of a vital fact which must necessarily have affected their judgment." Mr Henderson, in reply', deprecates his attitude at the Conference being made a subject of controversy or recrimination. He could only request the public to suspend judgment till they know the facts. If any statement was necessary to be made the proper place to make it. was the House of Commons. Even then his course would not be influenced, so far as it might affect the nation's interests and the successful prosecution of the war.

FRENCH SOCIALISTS' DEMANDS. PARIS August 10French Socialists in a statement of peace terms demand the restoration of Alsace-Lorraine, provided the inhabitants, except German immigrants, are consulted in .the matter. They also demand the evacuation of invaded countries, with reparation for devastation and violations of the Hague Conventions, and complete indemification of Belgium and Luxemburg for violation of their neutrality. PEACE BY RECONCILIATION. / GERMAN PAPER'S VIEWS. J GENEVA. August 10. The Karlsruhe "Volksfreund" recognises that dt is impossible for Germany to compel her enemies to pay indemnities and surrender territory. The continuation of the war may lead to complete exhaustion of all the nations. If the result enabled the enemy to d?roand an indemnity and territory it is lr.o terrible to contemplate. The panGerman aims are the sheerest madness, leading to inevitable ruin of conquered and conqueror.. It is time the majority of the R,eichstag urged peace by reconciliation.