The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-08-15
MINISTER THOMAS
INSISTS ON PEACE.
SOCIALIST MEMBER FRENCH WAR
COUNCIL URGES COLLEAGUES
TO ATTEND CONFERENCE.
DOUBTS ARMY VICTORY
Part of General Public and His Polti-
cal Brethren, lie Says, Are Apprehen-
sive of Victory in the Field, and Want
Peace Otherwise.

London, Aug. 1.-THE political cor.
respondent Of the Daily Telegraph says
if the labor conference adheres to its
resolution to send delegates to the
Stockholm conference Premier Lloyd
George will instantly advise a general
election.
Paris, Aug. 15-Reasons why the
French socialists believe 1t advisable
to attend the Stockholm conference are
given in a speech Of Albert Thomas, so
calist member of the French war coun.
Gil, to his constituents on Sunday, tho
full text of which has just been pub.
lished.
1t has been awaited with e'4t 'e in
terest. owing to NJ Thomas tn. n
as socialist leader and minister =. Hca,
nection with the vote in the cham. I
Of deputies, August 2. when the social
lists either voted against the govern
ment or abstained from voting.
W AHpHlh0 DtBdH bl duillllllB lndI
three years of war have not yet given
France all the results which the efforts
Of its soldiers and workers deserve"
Field Campaign Disappointing.
Continuing, NJ. Thomas said
Since the beginning Of the year.
we have had hours of great hope, the
Russian revolution being declared at
moment when it might have been fear
ed that czarism was making a separate
peace and the entry in the war Of the
great pacific American republic which
could hasten the hour of victory and
peace.
I'VE have also undergone fresh trials.
Our offensive Of April 16. while not
the check 1t had been represented to
be, had not given the strategic results
we had a right to expect. The Russian
offensive, beginning well. was stopped
by Russian weakness. The Anglo
French made advance in Flanders. but
an immediate result cannot be expected
from such tactical successes.
Some of our comrades and also a part
Of public opinion feel apprehensive.
Some ask II It is possible to anticipate
a military victory. and If it is not pos.
sible to arrive at a Just peace more
rapidly by SOME other means"
Admits Difficulty.
Turning TO the Stockholm question,
NJ. Thomas admitted the difficulty,
while French and German soldiers are
killing each other at the front. for
French socialists to meet the German
socialists and discuss. in safety, condi.
tions Of peace. He dwelt lengthily on
the widespread sentiment he found dur.
ing his visit to Russia against imperial.
ist aims, even among simple soldiers.
Such sentiment, he said made II advis.
able To French socialists TO go TO Stock.
holm 10 express Frances anti.imperial-
ism. The declaration OF the German
majority socialists that Alsace. Lorraine
must remain German, made their pres
ence at Stockholm impossible.
Some Of our socialists think" con.
tinued VI, Thomas, that by going to
Stockholm we could hasten the hour
Of peace and could after settling the
question Of responsibility for the war.
seek at the conference formulas which.
in the uncertainty of military soiu.
ton. would bring TO the people some
sort OF a halting peace. When such
formulas were found the socialists
would return TO their governments, say
ing: Here is an honorable and fitting
peace TO which all socialists agree.
Don't you think II ought to be real
ized?'"
Can't Bring Immediate Peace.
"They would argue that II would i'm
mediately save the lives Of six to seven
hundred thousand Frenchmen.
81 hear signs Of approval, which show
that some Of you agree Herewith, but
with all possible sincerity and distinct
uess, | tell you II is a grave and dan.
gerous error. The conference will not
and cannot bring immediate peace. To
combat this baneful idea, we could
bring all our forces to bring pressure
TO bear on our government. but the
German socialists would he powerless
to exercise any on their government,
and we would be dupes."
when the socialist party after its
sacrifices TO the national defense dur.
ing three years war declares II wishes
to go to a conference like that at Stock.
holm Il has a right to full confidence.
No one has a right TO fear Il may he.
tray M the cause OF the country when
IL wishes TO perform what is essential.
ly an act Of national defense"
Regrets Hostility Of Others.
As regards the opportuneness Of the
conference. NJ Thomas pointed out that
although Premier Kerensky and the
Russian government had ceased TO con.
slider the conference desirable, NJ. sko.
beleff. Russian minister OF labor, and
the council Of workmen's and soldiers
delegates stil thought II desirable He
regretted the absence OF the English
labor party and the Belgans and Am.
orleans. Nevertheless, he said, the so.
clallst partys idea Of going to stock.
holm 10 uphold the right so noble and
lofty that he must continue TO support