PEACE TALK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12084, 13 August 1917, Page 2

PEACE TALK.

BRITISH LABOUR CONFERENCE. DELEGATES TO PARTICIPATE. Rsutsr's Telegrama. LONDON, August 10. There were 800 delegates at the conference, and Russian representatives were also present. The chairman, Mr W. F. Purdy, said than no peace would be satisfactory which did not secure freedom from the nightmare of aggressive militarism. Neither Britain nor Russia wanted a separate peace. They must stand shoulder to shoulder until a righteous peac» was obtained. Mr Robert Smillie suggested that the executive should apnroacb the American and Belgian Labour movements to get them also to send delegates to Stockholm, and also to reovest the dominions to send two representatives each.

The chairman replied that the, suggestion would be considered.

Mr Sexton, moving his amendment, said that he had always been loyal to the executive, but there were times when loyalty to the executive meant treason to the rank and file. The resolution meant such treason. When the Germans repudiated their crimes his objection to_meet them would disappear. Mr G. N. Barnes, commenting'on +he absence of America.. Belgium, Franco and Italy from the Stockholm Conference, said that if the British went they would discuss matters wiih the Germans on one hand and the Russians on the other, with the Dutch and Scandinavians in the position of a makeweight in voting on any peace terms. Tli6 difference between mandatory and consultative was very small. If the delegates attended the conference, whether _ under one or the other, the positiaon would be the same. He asked whether the present was the best 'time to discuss terms of peace. (Cries of No and Yes.) Mr G. H. Roberts, M.P.. said that he considered that the Stockholm Conference was calculated to .injure M. Kcreusky's Government and to sow dissensions.

After th< rejection of the amendment, the Conference adopted the main resolution by 1.846,000 votes to 550.000.

The terms of this resolution making tho Conference nmr.andntory, deprive the Stockholm gathering: or the importance once assigned to it. LONDON, August 11.

Mr Havelock Wilson, general president of the National Seamen's Union, is calling; a meeting of Trade Union ltaders to consider the convening of another conference on Thursday, and is demanding a trade union referendum before the sending of delegates to Stockholm. NEWSPAPER COMMENT. LONDON. August 11. The "Daily & Chronicle" considers that tho Stockholm Conference is unlikely to be held, as the Russian Socialists want one kind, British Labour another, and the Franco-Belgians a third, namely, a mandatory conference on the restricted agenda previously defined by agreement. Tho "Daily Telegraph" says that it fails to see how a British delegation could possibly proceed in view of Russia's insistence on a mandatory conference. Moreover, Mr Henderson, while in Petrograd, insisted that all the Allies must be represented, whereas Belgium, France, Italy and America will be absent.