The sun., 1907-08-20
SOCIALISTS IN WORDY BATTLE
BEBEL AND NERVE AT wan OIER
ANTI WTIITt POLTGI.
German B.rad~r says Dlsor3sDIIaiion ~
Frrnci, Army Threatens Peace "s
EUrope --kaser's Gener aI star Alert
-Frrnrhman Makes Biiier RepIy.


Europr --ksssers Gener al star AIer,
-Frrnrhmsn Makes Buter R~pIy.
!SpeoiaI Cabe Dsspoich 10 TsE srN.
STUTTGART. Aug. Is.--The pIenury sit
tings Of the international socialistio CON-
gress will begin tomorrow. To-day WAS
occupied with COMMITTEES meetings
A resolution was submitted by Herr Rebel
and the French delegs tes against militia rism.
II proposes to resist all armsm ents. but.
should war be inc vitable. then Socialists
shall exert all their efforts to the bringing
about Of speedy end TO IL.
French amendment To the resolution
insists that general strikes and even revo-
luton shall he resorted to in order to pre-
vent war.
Universal brotherhood had a setback in
the first committee OF the conference when
Hervs crossed swords with Bebel over she
formers anti-militarist agitation.
The French delegates resolution advo-
eating dssertion and revolt by soldiers
to prevent war was being discussed. Rebel
said the snti-mlitarist propaganda in
France would IL successful endanger
peace. German military men, he added.
were watching il with close interest and
"A disorganized army in France would in
evitably attract a strong opponent.
GcrNe's position amounted to the view
thar IL was all one whether France con-
quered Germany or Germany France.
IF you took that position. Monsieur
said Bebel. addressing Herve. your own
people would trample you under foot"
Cheers.
He added that the German Social Demo-
Gratis were all opposed to miiitarism and
always combated il in the Reichstag.
They wanted military armament only as
far as il WAS necessary and in the most
democratic form. but they would not be
driven into course which would endaBger
the life OF the whole party.
Herve. who was greatly agitated by this
attack. rose aud poured out q torrent of
wrath. He declared that he did not know
that the German General Staff followed
his agitation with delighted interest. but
he did know that not only the French So
cialists but the whole Socialist world would
learn with astonishment and grief OF the
attitude of the German Social Democrats.
He taunted Bebel with vauntng the value
Of the 5000, 900 German Socialist votes.
What. he asked would the German So
cial Democrats do il Pr,issian bayonets
were turned against the Russian revo-
lutionists? He supposed they would talk
Of the moral effect OF their 5000, ,OOo votes
What would they do about the Morocco
affair? Our 3.OOO,OOO votes again. said
Herve with sneer
Having declared that he had never heard
ANYTHING worth hearing from Bebel Herve
said
The fatherland is a mich COW for cap
italists and a stepmother for the proe-
tarisns for which they really have no need
10 get their heads broken.
Rebel makes a distinction between
wars Of aggression and wars Of defence.
but when two Powers fall out the arrogant
ca pit alistic press makes such a storm that
you German Socialists have neither the
courage nor the strength To oppose IT,
My anti -militsrist agitation il loud cry
to you to do your duty. We have shown
the way because we have revolutionary
traditions"
The speaker declared that the German
Social Democratic party was merely a
benevolent institution. a systematic paying
machine. which wanted to conquer the
world with ballot papers.
what will you do when German soldiers
are sent to bolster up the Cars throne.
he asked, "or when Prussia invades France?
What will you do?" he repeated, turning to
Bebe, emphasizing the you" He re-
minded Bebel that the latter was imprisoned
in a fortress in 1871. but had become
bourgeois and was now afraid Of the Ger
man Government. Here Bebel angrIy
shouted:
I'VE can stand ten years more imprison-
ment than the French anti -miltaris,s"
Concluding Herve said that the French
General Staff had been demoralzed by the
anti-militariat agitation because it knew
that war would mean revolt by the pro-
letariat but you Germans" he added
scornfuIly. will follow your Kaiser and
level your rifles at the French proletarians
defending the barricades on which floats
the red flag OF revolution"
Herve's violent speech was interrupted
throughout by scornful laughter and angry
or contemptuous shouts Of disapproval. but
his peroration led to an immense uproar.
The incident had an unpleasant effect and
incidentally lost Herve the respect of the
conference.
Siederkun the president Of the committee
discussing the matter afterward. referred
to Herve as a mounteb ebank. and the Ger
man delegates, II no others. indorse him
NJ Jauras who will address the committee
tomorrow. will perhaps try to smooth
matters