Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-11-01
SOCIALISTS
: OF BELGIUM
TRULY BRAVE E
Defy Atrocious, Heart
Breaking Methods Of
Prussian Conquerors.
Shame Their Comrades OF
Other Nations Who
Pose as Pacifsts.

Inc & nave made the first
complete and satisfactory statement
OF the non-German socialists position
since the war. 1t is embodied in their
splendid manifesto prepared for sub
mission to the executive committee of
the entente socialist and laborite con-
ference in London in September. The
manifesto reached London too late for
consideration by the conference and
copies of it have just lately been q
ceived by American socialists
h manifesto opens with q careful
" matured statement of the crucial
question of the war. the invasion Of
socialist functions to react. against
this stupendous international atrocity.
The Belgians also give their
grounds for rejecting the proffered in
terventiOn of so-called neutral" So
cialists under German influence. They
recall the scandalous statement OF
Staining, which nearly cost him his
seat in the Danish cabinet, calling for
the overthrow Of the Kerensky gov
eminent in order that Germany might
be able to make q separate peace with
ing himself being q stanch anti-an-
archist. like his. German socialist
friends). The Belgian party also re-
calls that even their friends, like
Branting, of Sweden, have placed the
immediate need Of their little coun-
tries for peace above the welfare and
safety Of Europe, permanent peace,
and the existence. of other small ma
tons. 1T continues:
The Attempt to Buy on Italy.
but there were still other reasons
why the Belgian party should refuse
to lend itself to attempts at rap
proachment coming from one or 9TH
er comrlacent neutral. Certainly the
Belgian workmen r not unaware of
the ardent and active sympathy which
they enjoy in most sections Of the In
ternational; but they do o forget,
all the same; the Attitude Of certain
so-callld 'n%eutrals;' they do not
forget that the Swiss Greulich sup
ported $sNathan's socialists to neour
age them--with the offer Of 100000
francs (Which. indeed, they refused
with contemplate their propaganda
against the war; they do not forget
the scandalous journey of certain
Scandinavian socialists through Belgt-
UNI under the aegis Of the occupying
power, carefully avoiding obtaining
information from the Belgian social
lists with thefobvious view Of decetv-
ing international public opinion; they
have, still present in their memory the
OODlOidOISY OAoAAPA0 VI "~
employed the worst practices of bour-
geois secret diplomacy in order 70 &c,
the Russian revolutionarfes to treaa
with Prusian a%utocracy and mflttar-
ISM. Finally. they. have Just seen with
amazernent Troelstra, president Of the
ch-Scandinavian committee. re.
ceive the pretended Representatives OF
the pretended Flemish socialists, peo'
,ple without the slightest mandate OF
authority, and discuss with them with
a seriousness, bordering on bufoonery'
Could. anything more be required to
make the moves Of these neutrals a,
least open to suspicion?
Premature Peace the Real Menace.
And finally these heroic Belgians-.
suffering more than any other people
from the prolongation of h war
make a ringing and affecting appeal
against premature peace, an appea
that should. must and will become the
rallying cry Of all socialists who ar
unwilling to&acknowledge the over.
lordship1 either of the kaiser or q
the German socialists.
"As for THE pacifist movement O