Evening journal., 1916-12-20
French SOCIALISTS
FAVCR Peace TALK
Believe Allies Would Lose
by Curt Dismissal of
German Officer
SAYS PARTY IS
SHARPLY SPLIT

PARIS, Dec. 20.-The French So
cialist party is practically unanimous
in the view that the Allies should not
dismiss out Of hand Germanys peace
proposal. The Socialists believe the
Allies should first see what terms
Germany offers says Jean Longuet,
leader of the minority of the Socialist
party. in the Chamber OF Deputies
War has divided the French Social
list party as it has divided the Ger
man. Thus the party mas been de-
prived of the organized unity which
has been hitherto its strongest
weapon.
lne line of cleavage is not drawn
sharply. the chief difference being the
quest on OF resumption OF mterna-
tional reiaAons between Socialists in
the warning countries, which a minor
ity desires to be resumed Immediately
or at least at the cessation OF nos
tlities.
Attitude OF Socialists.
NJ. Lcqguet, who is a grandson of
Karl Marx and Deputy from the Seine
and a member Of the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee OF the Chamber OF
Deputies, answered as follows ques-
ton on the attitude Of the French So
cialists toward Germany's proposal OF
peace:
For the past fifteen months the
French Socialist party has been more
and more bitterly divided. While the
party is unanimous for the defence ol
the country, and has been since the
war began, growing conflict has
been going on since July, 1915, and
even more since our last nat onal con-
gross in Paris in December. 1915. Al
this congress a minority favored na'
tional defence but supported the re-
sumption of international Socialist
relations, and without advocatine
peace at any price. was for prompt
peace. The majority took an exclu'
sively national v'ew.
"The growth of the minority hai
been constant. It he'd ',0S0 votes al
the last conference. against 1900 al
the time It's recent manifesto was is
sued.
Question of Taking once.
Another question which divides
French Socialists is whether the mem
bers should accept office. OF course
the frinor ty IS against the Govern
ment. while about a dozen Of the ma
jority voted recently with the minor
ity on this question Albert Thomas
a member OF the majority, Is Minister
Of Munitions.
'cWith all these differences it is re
markable that recent meetings Of thu
party have shown that the party Il
practically unanimous as regards Ger
many's proposals. We are unanimou
In thinking that whatever may be tn
German Governments inner objects
nothing more stupid or more wicke'
could be done than to refuse to ex
anime any proposals the enemy ma,
make.
IF they are a snare l think the bes
way to fall into the snare would b.
10 allow the German Government 4
be able 20 tell its people it had trie
everything possible to end the abOm
inablo nightmare in which they wer
living, but was compelled to continu
owing TO the obst macy Of their enc
mics. who refused even TO talk sbou
peace.
Fear of Imperialism.
Meanwhile our own nation, whicl
has suffered more cruelty than all th
other great nations involved, woul
see its moral resistance weakened
The mass OF the people. the soldier
in the trenches, the mothers an
wives -~ould bel eve il was possibl
to have peace. but our Governmen
had refused because Of ambitious i'm
perialistic designs among our govern
ing classes and allies-for instance
Russ as pretensions TO Constant
nc pc.
Our Government should oblige tn
German Government to let us kno1
what its proposals are. II they ara
as they may be. unjust and impossi
bic, if it pretends TO retain any par
Of Belgium, France or Serbia, if
is not prepared to suggest some solu
ton OF the Alsace-Lorraine problem
II it refuses to give absolute inde
pendeDce to Poland. then it will hav
10 take the responsibility for the con
tinuation OF the slaughter, and not W.
"Then we want our Government (
sneak to the nation and let II b
known what our ends are, so that
we are Obliged to continue the figh
we may be certain it is only a figf
for the rights of nations and the free
dom of the world.
Il think the neutrals can exert
very useful and benehcent influenc
at the present moment, especially you
great and respected republic. NJ
party, while from a purely Socialis
standpoint il favors Comrade Benson
the Socialist candidate, for the Amer
ican Presidency, is extremely please'
in view Of the general European sii
uation. to see President Wilson rC
elected. We hope for much in th
salvation OF Europe from his pluck
and energetic attitude
NJ. Longuet closed by praising PFC
RattNu's work for permanent medis
lion. which NJ. Longuet understand
has Pres dent Wilson's approval
ST. JOHNS MEMS CLUB.
uts,-a~I ....-4r.-