The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-02
PACIFIST TANCLE
Objection to Having British
Official at Meeting.
Labor Member Threatens To
Force Governments Hand.

London, Aug flames Henry
Thomas, labor member in the house of
commons. warned the government
yesterday that if labor members were
prevented from discussing peace by a
refusal of passports to countries where
it is proposed to hold conferences. it
would be inviting the labor party to
step in and force the government s
hands Premier Lloyd George assured
the house that the government had
not in the least altered its view on
the only possible conditions of peace
consistent with the honor and security
OF the country. The debate was on
the question of whether the govern
ment was acting constitutionally and
III the national interest in permitting
arthur Henderson. member Of the
war council. to accompany a pacifist
mission including James Ramsay Mac
Donald and George James Wardle,
both members of parliament, to Paris
The government" continued Lloyd
George, proposed TO take no pert in
any conference such as Mr.. Hender-
son described, either by a Representa-
tive or by having any member Of the
government present 1t would allow
no sectional conference to dictate
terms of peace. That was the re-
sponsibilities of the government
Il happened to be in Paris at the
same time as Mr. Henderson" said
Il
ing the best means of prosecution of
the war and the conference which it
IS proposed to resume in London in
the next few days with representa-
yves or the great allied nations will
nave the same purpose"
Warns of Explosive MATERIAL
Proceeding to aiIude to Mr.. Hender-
son dual position. the premie- after
paying tribute to Mr.. Henderson's
war work on munitions and recruit
ing, said there were similar dual Dosi-
lions IN Paris, where labor had done
great administrative war work and he
Iore ne considered what had been
criticized as anomalous he should like
70 discuss it with his French col
leagues who are in the same position
ana the French premier would he here
WIthln 4o hours. On the main oues-
ION the government had to paw at
tentIon to pacifists but TO dey1ta &c
"noie llme 10 prosecuting the war.
MI Lloyd George agreed that there
was something in Mr.. HeDderson,s
contention as to advantages and disad-
vahtases which should be weighed
he wondered whether the house real
lzed the explosive material there was
about as
He never despaired of the allied
cause and felt confident Russia would
recover, but he begged them to give
| her a chance. The man in charge OF
the Russian deStlnieS was facing over
wheIming difficulties. He had to deal
with a nation bursting into life and
ohnded with its dazzle staggering
cropping, stumbling. The Russians
had asked US to assist them and we
| are doing our best to help them and
not give offense. What happened in
the last few days had opened Russian
eyes.
if they began to dissolve and dis
! integrate and fling one colleague
after another into the arms of those
fighting for the pacifists ends then he
really would despair. He appealed to
the house to preserve unity in order
that we might win a victory worthy
of the cause for which so many sacri-
fices have been made"
Criticize Henderson.
Press critics of Mr.. Henderson and
the government are dissatisfied with
! the debate. The speeches. they say
did not appreciably modify the hos
| tility of a large section of the house
including a strong labor element. Mr.
Henderson's patriotism is unimpugneC
I but the fact that he did not repudiats
\ a Willingness to meet delegates a
| Stockholm leaves the attitude of tht
1 critics much as before. Mr.. Hender:
son, as secretary of the Labor party
| convened a special party conferences
| for August 10 when, presumably, tbs
extent of the reported cleavage among
| labor members on this question viii
| be revealed