The Washington herald., 1917-06-27
French People Condemn
Socialists For Joining
Stockholm Conferees

, holm conference in the French Social
ist party. Premier Ribot had done his
best (thereby laying himself open to
much criticism) to meet the new in
ternational condition resulting from
the events in Russia. He spoke frank
ly, at the reopening of the Chamber
of Deputies after the Whitsuntide
holiday upon the question of the adop-
ton of the no annexations, no in
IDENTITIES" formula proposed by the
Russian provisional government. He
said that France was in entire accord
with the new regime in Russia in
being willing to make peace in the
spirit Of this formula. He did not
hedge, and make Mismarckian reser-
vations, as Mr.. Asquith recently did
In the house Of commons. NJ. Ribot
declared that France would be con-
tent with the return Of Alsace and
Lorraine. which was not annexation.
but restoration, and with the money
necessary to rehabilitate the invaded
provinces, which was not indemnity;
but reparation.
Ribot Changes Tone.
But when the question Of the French
Socialists going to Stockholm came
before the Chamber of Deputies, Mr..
Ribot was not so conciliating. although
only ten days had elapsed since his
previous speech. In spite of the
statements made by Cachin and Mou-
tet in the secret session, Premier
Ribot declared that the government
would refuse passports for Stockholm
to the Socialists delegates. and would
grant no passports to Petrograd until
the danger of accidental encounter
with the enemy in Stockholm had
been removed.
There are several explanations OF
the firmer tone taken by NJ. Ribot.
First of all, he has discovered from
the way his former speech was greet
ed that France is not in so concilia-
tory a mood as he had feared, and
that public sentiment seems to be be-
hind him in the matter OF treating
with Russia. Secondly, the action OF
the Social party in consenting to dis
Cuss matters with German delegates
has aroused a bitter feeling that is
well-nigh universal throughout the
country. In the third place. and this
Is the most important, the French
government seems to have come to
the conclusion that the Russian situa-
tion. as long as the present influences
rule at Petrograd, is hopeless. and
that it is useless to make any further
sacrifice to try to keep the Russian
Socialists faithful to the alliance.
Premier Ribot may be wrong as
far as the international and Russian
aspect Of the case has Influenced his
decision. But he has certainly judged
rightly the present mood of his fell
lCw-Countrymen II the United States
had not come into the war with a
whole heart and a determination TO
help and to help quickly, The defec-
tiOn of Russia might well have been
considered an irretrievable calamity.
AS il is. the French argue that Rus
sia has been OF no help since the
Brusiloff offensive that saved Italy
more than a year ago. and that If
the Russians do not move now they
will do no worse than last summer.
when the great Somme offensive was
on.
The French government. like every
other government in the war. Includ-
ing that of Washington. must pay a
great deal of attention to the state
of public mind. The nations can keep
at war. with all the increasingly
heavy sacricfies entailed by the state
Of war. only IL public sentiment con-
tinues to hope for victory. Negotia-
tions for q lame peace, with the Ger
mans still in France. Belgium. Poland
Russia, RumaniA. Serbia and Mon
tCnegrO. would shake the morale and
nrove a disaster. not only to France.
but to every other nation that is
fighting for the triumph OF democ-
raCy in the world.