Evening star., 1917-06-03
WAR AIM CLOUDS
MAY Be CLEARED
British Hope for Much From
President Wilson's Purported
Statement to Russ.
SOCIALIST PARLEY PUZZLE
(SpecfaI Cabiegram to The Sunday Sta
and New York Times.)

(SpecsaI Cabiegram to The Sunday star
and New York Times.)
LONDONh. June Hopes are ex-
pressed here that the statement OF
Americas aims in war, which Presi-
dent Wilson is reported to have ad-
dressed to the Russian government,
will do much to remove the confusion
which has grown up as result OF the
Russian no annexations and no in
IDENTITIES" proclamation.
Incidentally it Is thought that the
Presidents declaration may have an
important bearing on the vexed ques-
ton of allied participation in the in
ternational conference, called by the
Gil.
AS matters now stand Great Britain
and France have taken a different atti-
tude toward this conference. The dif-
ference on examination, however, Is
found to be more apparent than real
and to arise from causes which repre-
sent points of view rather than essen
tfal principles.
Hope to Avoid Question.
The American action, 1t is thought.
and newspapers of such ordinarily op-
posed opinions as the London Times
and the Westminster Gazette agree for
once in hoping that Notwithstanding
the statement made by the French pre-
mier, M. Ribot. in the chamber of
deputies the allied governments will
arrange with each other not to raise
any serious question with the Russian
government over the conference.
The French governments attitude. 1t
is thought here, may have been infiu-
enced by the manner in which the So
cialist party's decision to accept the
conference invitation was reached and
the demonstrations which 1t called
forth. The Paris correspondent of the
Manchester Guardian, describing the
meeting at which the majority and mi
nority sections of the socialist party
came to an agreement, said:
while the council was sitting. the
Place de la Republic was a scene OF
great animation. A crowd began to
collect early in the afternoon In front
of the Hotel Modern. where the meet
ing was held. and gradually increased
until at about 6 Pm. IT numbered sew
eral thousands. III.
"Down With war!" Is Cry.
"As time went on the crowd became
impatient and raised cries of Go to
Stockholm Down with the war; An
officer in uniform. who was imprudent
enough to call out, Viva La guerre!
was rather maltreated and had to be
rescued by the police.
where the council was sftting me dis
srsupsfIs ss rs Il nous 81 deHain rinternationl
ale sera lie. genre hurnafn. The crowd
was singing the internationale. It was
the first time it had been sung in the
streets of Paris since the war. The
cafe terraces surrounding the Place de
la Republic were crowded with people.
who looked on with approval.
During suspsnsion sion onanors 81 the session sDa
down and addressed the crowd. NJ.
Longuet said: We are going to Stock
holm to make peace and the declara-
.tion was received with tremendous
cheers"
Last Proposal Russian.
The British view is that while the
Stockholm conference, as originally
proposed, was clearly a German con-
trivance and on that ground was reject
ed by the Russian and other socialist
majorities in the bellfgerent countries
outside of Germany. the second and re-
vised proposal for conference was
Just as clearly of Russian origin. The
Westminster Gazette understands that
the Russian government asked, not that
officially, but that they should refrain
from putting obstacles in the way of
unofficial delegates attending. The
Gazette continues:
game with the Russian extremists. their
object being clearly to suggest to them
that the prospects of peace are being
shattered by the obduracy and OBJ
scurantism Of their allies. If they can
plausibly say that the Stockholm con-
for HSon thrro fod hxy thoxy
score a point in this intrigue. but il the
conference meets and develops the Rus
sian formulas, as 1t must. on lines
which are poles apart from their own
will be upon them.
French Stand Understood.
I've thoroughly understand the natural
instinct which makes Frenchmen shudder
at the mention of any Frenchman meeting
at conference representatives of a ma
ton which is defiling their country. but
we have also to bear in mind the extreme
importance of making 1t clear to the
Russian people that the allies have a clean
record on both the origins and the aims
of the war. NJ. Ribot. as we under
stand him. has other plans for
Communication with the Russian peo-
pie which will in better way effect
the objects aimed at in the Stockholm
conference. But that these objects must
be treated seriously. and that 1t would
be dangerous for the allies to veto the
Stockholm conference without finding
substitute which would be equally
satisfactory to the Russian govern
ment, is not, in our opinion. in doubt -
For Allied Participation.
Further argument In favor of allied
participation in the conference is at
forded by the attitude of Belgian So
cialist Leader Vandervelde. American
readers will remember vandervelde' 5
vigorous controversy with Morris Hill
quit in the columns of the press. Van
dervelde strenuously opposed the con-
CONTINUED on Fifteenth Page.)
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