New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-15
willing to Consider Repa-
ration to Injured
Nations
roDiscuss Return
OF Lost Provinces
c.;al;st Conference Is Ex-
pected to Decide
Questions

,...or,sd. June 1.-The executive
-. - the Workmen's and Sol
S.,., Council. in statement repiyint
o'e' -. letter addressed TO 1t oy
-. Thomas, the French Minister
~ wn,;,;ons Arthur Henderson Brit,
W;,;ster without Portfolio, ano
10 yandevelde, Belgian Minister
;, Munitions. expressing surprise Una,
all had been issued by the couhc''
International conference to con-
~ - mace before the negotiations De
~. tho British. French and Belgian
..,.,.,ions and the council had been
.o,.lpded. explsins its position regard
n, the impending international So
,;alist conference. a.,
''s arba Russian revolution" says tht
cement (which is a revolt OF tne
s"onIe not only against the tyranny "
sE.ry;sm hut also against the horrors
.s,be world war, the blame for wnleh
w rnon international imperialism
70. placed before all countries WIN
.rtraordinary acuteness the urgent
need of concluding peace
Union of Labor Against war
a. the same time the Russian revo'
,..;on has indicated to the nations q
n.v for realizing this problem, notary
yr;on of all the working classes 70
,.mbat ali attempts of imperialism 70
nrolono the war in the interests OF the
rr.sltbv classes and TO prevent peace
uith annexations or indemnltieS.
@The working classes OF all countries
-, easily come 70 a speedy, SOHO
agreement only if they are INSPIRED
With their own interests ana remoye
the aspirations of imperlallsts ana NH
;tarists. who often hide their true face
urder a seductive mask. ~ IS evideh'
.sst the conference can become the
,prn;ng point in the terrible epoch OF
f,atricidal war only if the members OF
the conferences are imbued with THESE
IDEAS. And it is no less evident tna'
eli the questions you have raised car
ROT he tire subject 70 discord or
r,ot;vs for a continuation of the war.
Agreement on Alsace-LOrraine
Having recognized the right OF ma
.io1s 70 dispose of their destiny, the
members of the conference Will come
~ an understanding without difficulty
regarding the future Of Alsace-Lor'
raine and other regions. Moreover
the working classes, relieved OF the
mutua! distrust with which the I'M
perialists have envenomed them, VII
agree regarding the means of granting
compensation and the amount OF sucf
compensation 70 the countries devas
lated by war, like Belgium, Poland, Ga
Gcia and Serbia. But II goes withou
saving that such compensation mus
have nothing in common with the con
tribution which is imposed on the con
ouered country.
"Regarding your statement that IL !
inpossible for you 10 break the secre
union-This statement evidently
based on a misunderstanding, for Tn
Council of the Workmen's and Soldiers
Delegates claims from no party as
rreliminary condition the renunclatlo
Of the policy already pursued by Il
The council expects from the confer
srce of the Socialists of the belligeren
and neutral countries the creation o
an internationale, which Will PERM
al the working classes OF the whoi
world TO struggle in concert for gen
ersl peace and break the bonds which
unite them By force 70 the govern
ments and the classes imbued with I'm
perialistic tendencies which proven
peace.
No Absolute Conditions
"The Council Of the Workmen's an.
Soldiers Delegates also considers
futile for parties TO make it an abso
lutte condition Of their taking part
the conference that the prehmlnarT
consent Of other parties shall be Oh
tanned TO any obligatory decision, 10
that would give rise 70 irreconcllao,
contradictions on questions an amicaol
discussion OF which might lead 10
solution acceptable 20 both parties:
Regarding your desire TO obtain
previous complete agreement betweeI
the Allied Socialists, the way in wnic
we put the problem renders futile an
such understanding. We consider tina
the conference can succeed only II IN
Socialists consider themselves, not N
REPRESENTATIVES Of the two belligeren
parties. but representatives Of slngl
movement OF the working classes "a
wards a common aim OF a genera
peace"