The sun., 1917-06-04
ENGLISH LABOR
VOTESPEACE
Speaker Fears 40 Years of
War Unless People Act
at Once.

Npecio tdS6 Dttpdfch 10 IHh Sun
LONDON. June s-More than $500 del
egates from la Dor and Socialist organ
ixations and peace societies met at Leeds
to-day and passed resolutions favoring
an early peace without annexations or
indemnities. The meeting formed the
nucleus for a British council Of workmen
and soldiers similar to the Russian
council.
Robert Smillie. an official OF the mine
workers, who acted as chairman. said
that the meeting wanted TO consult the
will OF the people all over the country
regarding peace. I'VE believe" he said.
that IL there is 10 be no peace until
q Knockout blow is delivered. the war
may last forty or fifty years A last
ing peace can never be brought about
| by kings or by the military, but by the
common people"
Resolutions were adopted proclaimlng
| the sympathy OF the convention with the
work directed 10 the accomplishment OF
peace without annexations or indemni-
ties which has been done by the Russian
workmens and Soldiers Council, and
also by the German Socialists. and de-
manding that the British Government;
support that formula in harmony with
I Inc fuSs4an government
/ A message from the Russian work
mems and soldiers delegates. which was
received with cheering. read The ex-
ecutive OF the workmens and soldiers
| delegates sends salutations ano fraterna
greetings and hopes TO meet the repre-
sentatives of the Leeds conference both
on July Is and July 80. The executive
| finds Stockholm most convenient for the
proposed conference. The details have
not yet been settled, and will be tele'
| grsphec later"
| The following reply to the workmen'.
| and soldiers delegates was adopted
| THE largest and greatest convention o'
la Dor Socialist and democratic bodies
/ Great Britain has held in this generation
to-day inGorsed the Russian declaration
Of foreign policy and war aims ant
pledged itself to work. through its newl,
constituted workmen's and soldiers dele
| gates for an immediate democratic
peace"
The resolution calling for the estab
lishment in England Of a workmen'e anC
soldiers council says II will work foi
"a peoples peace" Upon this Mr.
Smillie said: 1.-The time has come whei
the people need greater civil rights. Oui
soldiers are inarticulate. They have M
organization TO call attention to thei
grievances or TO demand better treat
ment Of their wives and children. Their
should be a closer link between the civi
and military population. The chief diff
ficulty ie that the soldiers are not al
lowed to participate Meantime the pros
pect 10 bright for bringing the industria
and military population closer together.
Philip Snowden. Socialist member o
Parliament for Blackburn. said; "Fo
three years we have appealed 10 the Gov
ernment to state its peace terms an
none has been forthcoming. Let US tel
the Government our peace terms dealin
with annexation-that all peoples In
GLIDING Ireland, Egypt and India. shoul
have the right to decide their own des
tiny"
The meeting finally decided TO divid
the country into thirteen districts. Fac
district was to hold conference an
effect the organisation of local counc
at the earliest possible moment on IN
Russian model.
Many speakers denounced the Govern
ment because of the restriction of civ
liberties One speaker declared tina
seyenty-four British subjects had bee
long interned ana never brought I
trial. The recent arrests OF the leader
I the machinists' strike were bitterly de
nounced. with the declaration that the
never would he forgotten. Undoubtedl
the scheme of forming workmen's an
soldiers councils will be carried ou
The chief difficulty is the uncertaint
whether the Government will allow III
soldiers TO participate.