The Star. MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1915. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11360, 12 April 1915, Page 4

The Star. MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1915. EDITORIAL NOTES.

, ; Tlio whole trouble with societies, parties, cliques and creed's is that their ■'■ members get a mental bias, and can ■only reason rationally along certain : lines. Each creates for itself a separate universe, and absolutely refuses the admission of extraneous influences. Each little organisation imagines it has a, monopoly of truth, and each looks forward to the millennium when everyone else will accept its views. Socialists have become f-o obsessed with the iniquities of capitalism that they see- in every social evil, in every international ■wrong, the malignant work of their arch-enemy, the capitalist. This idea lias become so fixed, that even go great a conflagration as tho European war fails to dislodge it from the- brains or fe certain ardent Socialists. Iteßprte the ps,, evidence that tho great war was engulfs cored by a glory-seeking, unscrupulous '"coterie of militarists, they still persist in tho delusion "that the present conflict i*, a capitalist oue, Mr A. M. Thompson, writing in a re<&nt insue of the " Clarion," says that iv ia impossible to reconcile the views of thinking inen with these pro-German doctrinaires who, having one© read in a German book that the. world is governed by economic factors, kee|> up « parrot-like cry about capitalistic wars, secret diplomacies and hair .Edward Urey'a Junkorism. "Because Marx and Engcls," says Mr/Thompson, " formulated" tho theory of economic determinism as an explanation of wars, the crusted old Tories of Socialism indiscriminately and interminably .apply tho formula to all sociological phenomena. Engels in later • life admitted that he and Marx had over-emphasised the doctrine, because, lie explained, 'we had to emphasise against our opponents this main tenet of ours which was denied,, and there was not always time, place or opportunity to gh'Q tJio other principles their due-' Eiigels further broadened, tho word ' economic' to such an extent by including race as an economic factor that it became a portraaneau word into which ho was able to pack any tiling and everything."

As to tin? tragic European upheaval the consensus of opinion in Labour circles in Britain, France and Belgium is that whatever started the war its causes wort? certainly not economic. The veteran Socialist, Mr H. M. Hyndmau, in the "New Review," states amongst the points that may reasonably be taken for granted iu« connection with the origins of the struggle are i the following:— 1. That this great war is; not a. capitalist war. or a. war desired by capitalists as it class in anv conn2. That the war is duo to the action of the last hereditary militarist oasto left,in the world, the Prussian Junkers, who have dragged their country into a, campaign of aggression, long and most, assiduously prepared for, in order to maintain their own ascendancy over Germany and obtain control over Europe. 8. That Great Britain.was unprepared for war and did her utmost to maintain pea,oe.

•' About the middle of February there «vas held in London » notable Socialist "jßoofereaice. Two members of the French Government and one member of the Belgian Government were present. In addition to these the assembly included several French, deputies, a, Belgian deputy, «eT«ral representatives of Bossia, and six members of tho British Parliament. The noconnte of the conifoTCnce that appear in the Press are j secretive, and by no means full No

reporters t:vpear to ha<e been present, and no account of tho speeches or detiuh of Ilii' proceedings «.rc cftvon in tin 1 new,spa"P'd's. The. war is described in the resolutions of the conference' as ••;i mon-iious product of tho antagnn-i-:n-- thai' ieur asunder eaniuilistio so-

(\jiumeuts the " Clarion ":■•" All. I'ut.L i.s >:ii(l ol Belgium's, unprovoked and ■avaj.ie. mutilation i.s that n ■ ihi'i-iuMis the very existence ol independent nationalities and strikes a blow ;it- all faith in treaties.' The n.-.iliitoii.s •demand that Jlolgimn .--.hall lim lih-nalcd and <nmp"iisated,' hut severely drprwate. ' tho political find economic crushing of (Jcrniaiiy.' and

' hopt> IhaL Iho working elaf-.sos of a-U the dift'jMTtit a}imt.ries will before lonp; lintJ tlie.m.selvos united in tho against, inilit.iri.sin and c.ipiialist Itoporialiism.' Then follow the usual pious roferoncos to hepj-ob tliplo. niac.v. annatnoiU. makeis and arbitr*riou, concluding: -ivilh tho of|ii«lly customary denimiMution of Mip pressions and oppression?.''"

Not a word is paid, about (icrniiin aj_'y;ression and brutaJity. Nothing about houvaiti. Tennon.de and tho raid on Scarborough. If uow appears that, tho Ht'lpiau and Kronen doiogutos I'avoiiroct ;i strong motion of cviisurc agii.insf (Jennflii atrocities in Belgium and. Franco, but n minority of British delettatOiS objoe-ted to any mention <>), theso (irinies in tho nwolution to bo submitted To tho mooting. Mr Hanisay Maol.)on:ild .stubbornly the wording of that }»art which dealt with responsibilities for tho ' war. .Mr Arthur Henderson made* an urgent appeal for agreemonr,, pointing out how disastrous \h would ho if an nuanimous vot<; could not bo obtained. The French and Belgian Socialists also niado urgent- personal appeal to Mr Mac Donald, who, however, refused to

" compromise,■' and was supported by Bruce Glasier nnd one or two other [.L.i*. delegates.

These members of the Conference were strongly taken to task by Vaudervelde, a Belgian Socialist, who warmly chided them on their finely-balanced "impartiality" in the face of unutterable wrongs inflicted on his country. Ultimately, howovcr, the Continental delegate* consented to compromise in the deletion of the words to which Mr MaeDonald had objected, on the understanding that a unanimous vote would then be cast by the entire Conference. This was agreed to, and the English section withdrew. On their return, they announced they had decided amongst themselves to accept the basis of compromise- in question, though a majority of the British delegates were in agreement with their Continental colleagues, and would hare preferred the resolation as originally submitted by the majority of tho sub-coin mission. One Russiau delegate and a member of the French C.G.T. supported Mr MaeDonald, though the majority of the C.G.T. delegates would have voted with the majority.

" What most disgusted the Continental representatives, however," says tho "Clarion, 1 - "was that after this effort' to arrive at an unanimous voto, Messrs Anderson and Cilasier, one French delegate, and one Ru«oi:m did not vota at all—the two former thereby failiug to carry out the - loyal undertaking giren by the British section to the Conference. The truncated resolution was, therefore, carried nem con., but not unanimously. The unhappy effect of these- proceedings on the minds of the French and Belgians was very marked, said this was heightened by the attitndo of mind shown in tho speeches delivored by members of tho British section."

NEWS FROM EGYPT.

The " Star " will be pleased to receive for publication letters which have been sent by soldiers serving with the Expeditionary Foree to their relatives and friends at home. Mantkcript will be carefully oopied and returned to the senders immediately.