The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-15
Their Leader i'm France Con-
dennis Stockholm Conference.
German Ruse to Agitate Paci-
fists and snake Dupes of U.s."

Paris, Aug. 15.-Reasons why the
French Socialists believe 1t lnadVlSaple
to attend the Stockholm conference
are given in a speech of Albert Thvm-
as, Socialist member of the French
war council, to his constituents on
Sunday, the text of which has Just
been published. 1t has been awaited
with extreme interest owing TO M
Thomas position as Socialist leader
and minister and in connection with
August 2, when the Socialists either
voted against the government or alb
stained from voting
BY Peace or War, Which?
NJ. Thomas began by admitting that
three years of war have not yet given
France all the results which the eff
forts of it's soldiers and workers de-
serve Continuing, he said:
Some of our comrades and also
part of public opinion feel apprehen-
sive. Some ask if it is possible to an
ticipate a military victory and it il is
not impossible to arrive at just peace
more rapidly by some other means
Turning to the Stockholm question
M. 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 ccndi-
lions of peace.
continued, that by going to Stock
holm 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 a military solu-
ton would bring to the people some
sort of hating peace. When such
formulas were found the Socialists
would return to the governments, say
ing: Here is an honorable and fitting
peace to which all Socialists agree.
Don't you think it ought to be real
ized?' They would argue that 1t
would Immediately save the lives of
six to seven hundred thousand
Frenchmen.
Grave and Dangerous Error.
Il hear signs of approval which
show that some of you agree there
with but with all possible sincerity
and distinctness tell you it is grave
and dangerous error. The conference
will not and cannot bring immediate
peace. To combat this balefu1 idea
we could bring all our forces to bring
pressure to bear on our government,
but the German Socialists would be
powerless to exercise any on theirs
and we should be dupes."
NJ. Thomas condemned some of the
statements being circulated about the
military situation which resulted in
false hopes with regard to the Stock
holm conference as conference of
peace and compromise giving the con-
ference a significance which he re-
pudiated-
ut is our duty whatever may be
the present military situation he
added, ito continue our effort with all
our energy, will and power. If we
give up on military grounds to the
Germans, if we allow ourselves to
think we cannot get thru with our eff
fort, German Imperialism will quickly
profit to our grief"
Germans Eager for Session.
Berlin, via London. Aug 15.-The
refusal of the entente powers to grant
passports to the Stockholm Socialist
conference, shows that England and
America are determined upon Ger
many's destruction, the Vorwaerts as
serts today.
This reveals who are the real OBJ
stacles to peace the Vorwaerts de-
clares.
The Vorwaerts refers to the action
of the entente nations as brutal de-
struction of the Stockh )lm peace
work.
This is the first comment out of
Germany on peace since TIE issuance
of the pope's peace appeal. While
the comment is on another subject. it
nevertheless reveals again. the Ger
man attitude on the general PROPOSE
~ Of