Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-07-27
SOCIALISTS FAIL
ON RESOLUTION
To STATE TERMS

LONDON, July 27.-The house OF
commons after employing the whole
evining session yesterday in a discus
sion of peace resolution moved by
James Ramsay Macdonald socialist
and labor member, last night defeated
it by vote of 149 to 49, The an
nouncement of the figures was received
with some cheers and much laughter.
The smallness of the numbers in the
house when division was taken is an
indication of the little interest shown
by parliament in any hope of useful
peace movement at the present juno
ture. and the conviction was voiced in
an important statement by Herbert H.
Asquith. the former premier, that moths
ing was to be Hoped from the present
temper of the German reichstag and
people.
The little group of paeifsts insti-
tuted peace debate by introducing a
resolution declaring that the German
reichstag resolution fayoring peace by
an understanding expressed the princi-
pies for Great Britain stood through
out. and calling on the government in
conjunction with the Entente Allies. to
re-state their peace terms accordingly.
The resolution also declared that the
forthcoming allied conference on the
war aims should comprise representa-
tiyes Of the people and not solely the
Spokesman of the government,
Former Premier Asquith during the
deoate, declared the previous speak
ers attached more Importance to the
reichstag resolution than it deserved.
He recalled that after an obscure
struggle in Berlin the military chiefs
obtained dismissal of the imperial
chancellor, in whom the emperor only
& short while before had expressed un
bounded confidence, ~-~
Peace said Mr.. Asquith, had be-
come the supreme interest of mankind,
but subject to an all-important condi-
ton namely that is it is a peace which
does not defeat the war purposes of the
Entente nations, and that it does not
turn to waste their unreasonable loss
and suffering.
He welcomed the news that confer
ence would be held in the autumn on
invitation of Russia Nothing but good
could come of a plain reinstatement Of
the Allies aims in good cause. The
fact that Russia had ceased forever to
be autocratic and the appearance with
all her moral and material forces of
the United States in the struggle had a
direct and practical bearing upon the
opinion of the world,
George James Wardle, chairman OF
the labor party in the house, speaking
n behalf of his party, frankly agreed
with Mr.. Asquith's remarks and said
he was unable to support the resolu
tiun. The reichstag did not represent
the German people, and any negotia-
tons conuld only be with the German
government; therefore an international
socialist conference would be useless.
He saw no sign of repentance on the
part of the German socialist majority.
Andrew Bonar Law, the government
leader. said that if the views of the
mover of the resolution were right
then this country had been guilty Of
the worlds greatest crime. He con-
tended that it was useless to base any
thing on the resolution passed by the
reichstag, which did not have the
smallest power. Germany never had
sta ted her aims, because she knew she
would be found out directly she put
her peace terms down in black and
white.