New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-24
American Socialists
Deny Peace Move
Is Pro-Germanisn,

statement defending the Socialist
party and Morris Hillquit against
charges Of pro-Germanism was issued
Yesterday by twenty-six college men
and women who are Socialists. They
declare that socialists differ from
other people not in loathing the Kaiser
less. but war more" and state that II
this be pro-Germanism, their oppo-
nents may make the most of IT. 1t IS
set forth that "fair-minded analysis
shows that neither Mr.. Hillquit's state
ments nor the acts of the party war
rant accusations of pro-Germanism
The statement. in part, reads:
"First-It is alleged that American
Socialists favor separate peace be
tween Russia and Germany. The party.
however. has taken no such stand, and
Mr.. Hillquit declares: 4 do not know
Of a single American Socialist of any
standing in the party who favors a
separate peace.
Hillquit Defended
Second 1t is contended that Mr..
Hilluuit and certain of his followers
are pro- German because they declared
for a draw. 1t is true that Mr.. Hill
Quit and several others specially at
the beginning of the European war,
when Russian autocracy was still su-
preme-did venture the opinion that
decisive victory on either side would
not lead TO the best results. This be
lief was not based however, on pro-
German tendency. but on firm convic-
tion that "a decisive victory of either
side is likely to foster spirit OF mill
tary arrogance and pseudo patriotic
eXutation on the part Of the victorious
countries. lasting resentment and in
creased military activity on the part of
the defeated nations, and a general
condition Of pan-European irritation,
with q tendency to another perhaps
even more pernicious war. In short.
their attitude is a heartfelt support of
tine sentiment expressed by President
Wilson in his advocacy of peace with
out victory
"Third-The opposition Of American
Socialists to indemnities and 70 the
transfer of territory, except upon con-
sent and by vote of the people within
the territory is based on essentially
the same reasoning as the more gem
eral belief in a peace without vic
tory
Socialists hold that n proposal on
the part of one nation TO exact huge
lndemnltles and TO annex territory
leads almost inevitably to a war Of
exhaustion. to the killing of thou
sands upon thousands of working class
men who would gain nothing from
any transfer of land or money, and to
an incendiary foreign policy OF re-
vanche on the part of the penalized
nation.
Pro-Germansm Denied
"Fourth-Socialists are condemned
as pro-Gcrman on account Of their op-
position to the present war. The pub
lie proceedings of the partys emer-
gencv convention in St. Louis >unmis-
takably revealed the motives that
prompted the majority to pass a res
olution standing out against war What
were these motives? American Social
lists had observed for three years the
activities of the Socialist movement
abroad. They had decided that if the
parties of the workers in Germany as
well as in other European countries
had uncompromisingly opposed war the
great conflict would not have reached
such huge proportions.
"Thcy also witnessed the neutraliza-
ton OF the class struggle brought
about by nationalism cngendered by
the war. which was fought for the ben