New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-11
Declare They Will Close
All Ships to the
Delegates
Reparation Demanded
For Crushed Nations
Macdonald at Blows With
Thorn; Conference
in Uproar

LONDON, Aug. 10.-The conference
of the British Labor party, held at
Westminster to-day, voted to send del
egates to the Stockholm consultative
conference. The vote was 1,046,000 to
$4,000, 600 delegates casting ballots.
The conference was in an uprosr, which
ended only when the result Of the card
vote was announced.
The resolution was carried after an
amendment by the dock workers OPP
posing it had been defeated by vote
Of $4,000 to 1851 900. When the vote
on the resolution was announced
delegate shouted that no matter what
the convention did the Firemen's and
Seamen's Union would see to it that
the delegates would never reach
Stockholm.
Before the vote was taken James
Ramsey Macdonald, Socialist and Labor
Member of Parliament and ex-chsirman
of the Labor party, made a vigorous
plea to the delegates TO bury the past,
go to Stockholm, lay your case before
the conference, hear the other side
discuss matters generally and return
with the basis Of peace in your pock-
cts"
What we want from the democra-
cies of Europe" Mr.. Macdonald added,
"is a clear statement of their aims"
These words brought forth roars of
cheering from the delegates.
Privy Councillor James II. Thomas,
Labor Member of Parliament for Derby
and Assistant General Secretary of the
Amalgamated Society of Railway Ser
wants, was booed and cheered when he
tried to address the conference. The
disorders resulted in one delegate being
elected from the hall.
Macdonald and Thorn Clash
A representative of the textile work
ers moved, and a representative of the
miners seconded, the resolution to send
delegates to Stockholm. A representa-
tive of the dock workers moved that
mo case had been made out for the
sending Of delegates to any conference
that includes delegates from enemy
countries"
When Macdonald arose TO support
the first resolution an uproar began.
While it was going on, Macdonald and
Will Thorn, Labor Member of Parlia-
ment and founder and general secre-
tary Of the National Union of General
Workers, came to blows.
Arthur Henderson, Minister without
portfolio, urged the sending Of dele
gates to Stockholm for consultation.
but not to discuss peace terms.
G. n. Barnes, Minister of Pensions.
spoke in favor Of the dock workers
attitude against attending confer
ence at which delegates from enemy
countries would be present, saying
that the United States, Belgium, France
and Italy were not sending delegates,
and that If delegates from Great
Britain were sent they would be nego-
tiating with Russians, Germans, Dutch
and Scandinaviahs. He added that che
difference between a mandatory and a
consultative conference was small, and
that the British delegates would be in
the same position whatever its final
character. He asked il the conference
at the present time was for peace, and
was answered by thunderous cries OF
"Yes" and "No."
Roberts Fights Proposal
George Henry Roberts. Labor mem
Der of Parliament for Norwich. made
a strong fighting speech againsc@dele-
gates going to Stockholm. He said he
declined to meet Germans during the
war. He thought that the Russian
government of Premier Kerensky
should not be inUerfered with. II the
men in the labor movement were un-
able to agree among themselves. he
added, they would only carry their
confusion and disagreements into other
countries slld create further misunder-
standing.
The chairman Of the convention
promised to give consideration TO a
suggestion made by Robert Smillie.
leader of the miners, that now the
resolution had been carried the execu-
tive committee should approach the
American and Belgian laborites and
persuade them to send delegates to
Stockholm.
The decision Of the Laborites to send
representatives TO Stockholm is q re-
versal of the policy to which the party
committed itself at its recent conven-
ton. The changed attitude was due to
an alteration OF the plans Of the So
cialists by which the conference will
be merely a consultative gathering for
the presentation OF the views Of the
different sections. instead of one for
framing peace terms or a platform Of
the international Socialists on war
questions.
Russian influence has been an i'm
nortant factor in the British decision.