Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-29
SOCIALIST MOVE
HAS FEW FRIENDS
English and French Press Con-
dennis 1t as Sneaking Ger
man Plot.
PAN GERMANS DENOUNCE 1T
See in Stockholm Conference Eff
fort to Rob Berlin Of
Victory.
PAN GERMANS DENoUNcE /

| BERLIN, July sS.-Wolfgang Heine,
a member Of the German Reichstas and
\ representative Of the majority fac
ton of the German Social Democracy
at the recent Stockholm peace con-
ference" says In the Vorwaerts:
The English and French press has
pictured the Stockholm conference as
a sneaking German attempt to proven,
the near and complete victory OF the
entente powers. Al the same time the
| Pan-German organs howl about a
socialistic plot TO prevent a near and
fun German victory. Even sincere ad.
| vocates of an early peace express fear
that the deliberations in the Swedish
capital may prolong the war.
Large circles OF opponents Of the
war are OF the opinion that tho " esterr
| allies will use the Stockholm confer.
ence to hitch the Russian Socialists
to the chariot of Imperialism. There
| Is no doubt that the entente govern
ments and certain delegates OF neutral
| countries are working in this direction
but our j!ngoes. by shouting for a
German peace" also are trying to
block all efforts to end the wholesale
| murder that has now been going on for
| three years.
GERMAN SOCIALISTS
IN DIFFICULT POSITION
The German Socialists will surely BIO
| in difficult position when the inter
! national conference called by the Rus
sian Council Of Soldiers and Working
mems Delegates meets in August. be-
cause they will have to face large
anti-German majority. composed Of the
! entente delegates and the neutrals
sympathizing more or less openly with
the war aims OF the allies.
II is not impossible that the con-
ference may be turned into a demon
stration against Germany. as it will
undoubtedly be manipulated by very
astute politicians.
| Even under the most favorable cir
cumstances the Stockholm conference
| vii! lot bring an immediate peace. al
| though the International organization
/ of the Socialists may be resurrected.
But the conference will not be in vain.
as II will give the proletariat Of all
| nations chance to raise Its voice
against the continuation of the blood
shed and In favor of sensible peace
Under the constitutions Of the differ.
ont countries peace has to be concluded
ty the governments. but 1t will be
made by the people. So far the gov
| rrnments have shown themselves in
! capable Of finding a way out Of the
! labyrinth OF genera, insanity All OF
them urge the people on to new sacri-
fees by promising them the complete
| destruction of the enemy and a die
| tated' peace No statesman who has
talked OF sure victory and created
hopes that have not been fulfilled dares
! TO speak OF peace. because that would
he equivalent TO a confession of defeat.
GERMANY MUST TAKE
STEPS FOR EARLY PEACE:
The German government can and
| must take decisive step in the direc-
ton OF an early peace because 1t is in
more favorable position than the gov
| ernments of the entente powers. BY
pointing to the solemn declaration
which DR.. Won Bethma nm H ollweg
| made in the Reichstag on August 4,
1914. when he assured the world that
Germany was not animated by lust Of
| C: inquest, and only took up arms to
defend the integrity and economic in
dependence of the empire. our gov,
eminent can come out squarely for a
peace without anncxations and indem-
| mites and that must be done.
Unfortunately. the occupation of
large foreign territories has led to an
agitation for annexations which has
placed the empire In a wrong light and
given our enemies a chance to influence
the neutrals against us and scare them
| with the specter of German world
| hcEemony.
This agitation also has made our
| relations with our allies difficult. No
greater mistake could have been made
| than to create the impression in Aus
| tria- Hungary. Bulgaria and Turkey
that the German government is in the
hands Of the annexatinnists. Our al
lies will finally resent the idea Of max
| ing endless sacrifices to realize fan
| tastic German war aims.
Many OF our present difficulties would
| have been avoided If our government
had mad the courage to turn against
| the powerful elements which shouted
| for anneSations and indemnities and
undermined tho confidence in tie. con-
duct OF the war, the courage ncces-
sary for the defense of the empire and
the hope In better future.
The government still hesitates to
free itself from the sinister influences
OF the annexationists. and the people
must now act by stating their war
| AIMS. masses Oh all DcllBeEent
nations want peace. Tho advantages
one group of powers or the other might
still gain by the prolongation OF tho
war would be more than nullified by
the enormous damage to the world and
civilization The aim OF all nations
! must be to find a way out Of the po-
litical conditions which will make a
repetition of such catastrophe I'M
| possible
II is necessary that we face the con-
ditions frankly, What has happened
| cannot be undone. and no indemnity
will restore the lost millions of lives.
the wasted strength and the destroyed
| wealth.
MUST CONCENTRATE
49,, y ON RECONSTRUCTION
Humanity must concentrate It's
thoughts on reconstruction. Peace
through the destruction of one or the
other Of the two groups OF powers is
~ %(coptinued ION Eighth Pase}