The Washington times., 1917-06-21
Stockholm Conference Holds
Serious Problem For Entente
Russian Socialists Fall Into PruSSian Trap and England
DaTeS Not Forbid Participation.

France and Italy and England and
America to denounce and expose IL as
1t formerly had been.
The entente nations could not az
ford bIuntly to notify Russia that its
new regime was being duped. They
could not assume either the bad taste
or the stupidity OF the people at Pet
rograd who were now playing Ger
many's game. The new democracy Of
Russia had been enthusiastically well
coined into the family OF the worlds
self-governing powers. The revolu-
ton and the overthrow OF Czarism had
been hailed as a mighty victory or
public rite: as the greatest single
achievement for the cause OF human
liberty thus far accomplished during
the war. In the hands OF Russia this
international conference was a good
deal more dangerous to the allies than
II had been when very plainly Ger
many was running the show.
Franeh and British Attitude.
The French premier took the bull
by the horns and fatty declared that
no French passports would be issued
on which French delegates might at
tend the Stockholm gathering The
British government took precisely
the other attitude and announced that
the Socialists delegates to Stockholm
would be given passports
The English government seems to
have realized that to refuse permits
sion for delegates to go to Stock
holm would offend both the Russian
Socialists, who are now in the as
cendent, and the British LABOR com
munities, which for various reasons
are giving disquiet to tho govern
ment- So the London government
agreed to give passports to dele
cation to Stockholm. In France a
different situation existed. The whole
French people, from highest 70 low
est, from proudest to humblest, thinks
OF nothing but saving the national
life. Hunger, cold, privation IN what
ever form II may come, cannot dis
place from the French mind the one
supreme consideration.
With Socialist or capitalist II Is
all the same. For France has felt the
heel OF the Hun. France, xrenehed
asunder and drenched in blood, does
not need to be afraid OF the insidiuus
influences OF German socialistic pr.p-
uganda There is no peace al any
had felt the weight Of the war as
France has felt it, there would be
the same unanimity in England as in
France. One only needs to go around
among the plain people OF England
to realize how true this is Co into
home anywhere in England from
which the father and probably all OF
the sons have gone to the army, and
which likely is mourning for one or
more OF them lost on the battlefield,
and one hears none OF this peace at
any price talk.
France Dared To Stay Out.
There is another aspect. A very
real affection exists between France
and Russia. They have been allies a
long time. England was a later Conner
into the alliance. EngIsni Is not
popular with the international Social
lists OF Russia, and knows it. The
German plotters had made the most
of Ireland and Egypt and IndIs, and
formerly made n great deal OF South
Africa, as testimonies that En-land's
concern for humanity and liberty is =
fake.
So France dared to stay out Of the
Stockholm conference, but England
did not. ThSt Is the long and short
Of 1t. Franco could refuse without
giving deep ofrense. II was doubtful
whether England could.
Apparently. too, Paris and London
took decidedly different views of the
gathering. From a source
which unquestionably reflects the
honest British official attitude l learn
that the British government Is now
quite hopeful that the Germans will
be hoist at Stockholm by their own
petard: that the conference. although
Of German origin. Is likely |
to muster a comfortable majority in |
with the enemies OF Ger
many. II that be the case. the Brit !
ish government hopes that its effect !
will be to expose the whole German !
plot and win for the allies a greater |
measure OF mutual sympathy and !
support even than they have thus far |
enjoyed. At any rate. the London !
decided to take a chance |
that this would be the event. Paris |
took the other view and set its face |
stonily against the whole proceed |