New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-18
German Socialists Plan to Use
Stockholm Meeting to idKaiser
Party Split but Both Factions VIII Oppose Any Action
That VIII Not Bring Profit to the
Central Powers
By WILLIAM ENGLISH WALLING

The now notorious Stockholm Social
list Conference, for which another Gin
ternational" conference of the same
character is now, apparently, about to
be substituted, is one of long series
of efforts by German Socialists to bring
about a German peace. Almost from
the beginning Of the war they have
been calling pretended international
Socialist conferences, upon every one Of
which they have succeeded, without the
slightest difficulty, in forcing their
peace ideas.
These were not genuinely interna-
tional gatherings, because they were
not officially summoned by the Interna-
tional Socialist Bureau, and because the
Socialists Of France and Belgium, and
the Labor party, by far the largest Off
cial Socialist party in Great Britain,
refused to attend. However, the Italian
party sent delegates, for it has steadily
elected all but pacifst fanatics from its
ranks, until there are more Italian So
cialists outside the party than in IT..
Moreover, the German Socialists, like
the German government, exercise an
immense influence over little neighbor-
ing countries - Switzerland, Holland
and Scandinavia. And, finally, little
groups Of French pacifists, though rep
resenting a very small minority of the
French Socialists, could not be prevent
ed from attending.
No international" gathering was held
until German victory seemed, at least
to the Germans, absolutely secure. AT
the beginning of the war the German
Socialists were almost unanimous.
Haase. the chairman Of the party, and
Bernstein, the world renowned evolu-
tionary Socialist, both supported the
Kaiser. Their position was shown in
lecture delivered by Bernstein before
the Metal Workers, the largest labor
union in Germany. The "Vorwarts"
of October "a, 1915, reports Bernstein
as saying on this occasion: 1--WE Social
Democrats have the most earnest wish
that victory should rest with herman
arms. Ii would be misfortune Tor all
civilization if this IS not the case
Victory Seemed in Sight
By the spring of 1915 the prospects
of peace with victory seemed secure
Haase, who was still chairman, spoke
for the party as whole IN inc
Reichstag. All agreed with him when
he declared that Germany's military
successes were "undeniable," and that
ut is precisely the strong who can hrst
make peace" But they were no longer
agreed as TO the military situation. All
favored peace with victory. But haase,
Bernstein and Kautsky (lncontestaDiy
tho highest Marxist authority living
to,dav5 as well as Ledebour and Lieb-
tnccht. the extreme radical leaders,
now contended that peace based upon
German military advantages was al
ready obtanable.
On the other hand, Scheidemann,
later made chairman of the party;
Jecion. head of the labor unions;
David. Suedekum and others, equally
;nfuential. insisted that peace based
mon victory would require more light
no This was the beginning of the
snlit that has now created two So
cialist parties in Germany. The official
marty. headed by Scheidemann, captured
The whole party machine, the official
organ. "Vorwarts," having been taken
away from the minority. II also CON
trolls eighty-hve of the 10 Socialist
members of the Reichstag and sim
liar proportion of the German cities.
The minority, however, controls Ber-
lin. Leipsic and Bremen and has at
least an equal number Of leaders IN
Huential outside of Germany. And
now comes the most important distinc-
lion of all. The Scheidemann party
has usually supported the Kaiser In
internal notifies. while the new Haase
marty has maintained a steady opposi-
ton Hence the influence OF the
Scheidemann group in countries out
side of Germany has fallen to zero
while the prestige of the Haase group
has been correspondingly increased.
This opposition 10 the Kaiser IN home
affairs must not be exaggerated. Inc
few revolutionists- bknecht, Rosa
Luxembourg and others-are nearly all
in prison. Moreover. while they are
hopcful of ultimate revolution, after
further weakening of the Kaiser
through the war, they have no hope
whatever Of an early uprising, as they
expressly declared in statement
issued from Switzerland only few
- .... The rninoritv LEADERS, with