New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-15
Stockholm

Recognizing, as every thoughtful man
must, that the decision of the governments
allied against Germany in the matter OF
the Stockholm conference is wise and just
and inevitable, it is nevertheless not an
occasion on which to indulge in any denun-
citation of those who, mistakenly but sin
cerely, look to Stockholm as a way out Of
the world war.
There are many signs in the world which
wise men will not overlook. At the end of
three years of war those who have suffered
most-and they are the mass of the people
in the nations engaged-inevitably long
for peace and attach to impossible schemes
value derived from their own privations
The business of craftsmanship in the
world at this time is not to attack or to
denounce those who are blindly, unreason-
ably, but with terrible sincerity, seeking
some escape from an agony beyond descrip-
ton and from burdens that have become
wellnigh intolerable.
We perceive that it is an impossible
thing that delegates of labor unions and
labor councils should gather at Stockholm
Under the leadership of those Russian revo-
lutionists whose propaganda and proceed
ure have destroyed the unity and the eff
fectiveness of Russia to discuss with the
German Socialists terms of peace. We
perceive with utter clarity the danger and
the folly of such course. The abdication
by governments of the business of interna-
tional intercourse, the surrender to domes-
tic organizations, such as labor unions, of
the right to formulate peace terms and to
negotiate with the enemy, is impossible.
1t seems to The Tribune that the Allied
governments have acted wisely in refusing
to permit delegates to attend the Stock
holm conference. The Tribune believes that
the United States government has been
well advised in associating itself with the
other nations fighting Germany in this
matter.
If the Russian government desires to
have its allies confer with it on any ques-
ton as to the conduct of the war, or as to
the agreements existing or desired by the
nations fighting Germany, then The Trib-
une believes the United States and every
other nation joined with Russia in this
conflict must inevitably comply with the
Russian request. Nor has there been any
where in the world any unwillingness to
do this. The voice of Russia is entitled to
be heard precisely as long as the govern
ment of Russia conducts itself in the face
Of the common enemy as an ally, loyal and
faithful.
1t must be patent as we enter this
fourth year of the World War that it is no
longer possible to blind our eyes to the
great WEAKNESS, and if the statesmen of
the Allied nations fail to make clear to the
mass of the people what the facts of the
situation are, if they attack the natural
and logical longing of the people for peace
rather than seek to explain and demon
strate to the people that peace is impossi-
ble-real peace, any peace save that peace
which means a German victory and a re-
sumption in the future Of German attack
they will make fatal blunder.
Let us be perfectly clear in one respect.
IL is the people Of the nations who are
fighting and not their statesmen who have
shown the great qualities. Craftsmanship
in the past has never sunk to so low an
ebb as in the last three years. Never have
the policies of great nations been formu-
lated by politicians less deserving Of the
respect and the confidence Of their fellow
countrymen. In the midst Of a world
catastrophe they have remained merely
local politicians. They have continued to
think and TO act in terms Of districts and
minor constituencies at a time when the
salvation Of nations was at stake, keeping
the people Of the world blind to the immi-
nence of this struggle and, once it had
come, demonstrating their incapacity to
meet the storm.
The people Of France, and Of Great Brit
Gin, and Of Italy, and Of Russia, like the
people Of the United States, can be trusted
&c fight the German war 10 the end if it is