New-York tribune., 1918-09-21
American Delegates Win
Big Victory at Allied
Conference
Gompers's Hosts Put
Paci6sts to Rout
No Peace Until Prussian
Autocrats Are Unhorsed
Is Spirit
By Arthur S. Draper
eSpccial Cable to The Tribune,


LONDON, Sept. 2O.-American dole
gates Won big victory at the inter.
Allied labor conference to-day. After
having rctreated at Derby and skill
iuIly mannuvred at previous sessions
OF this conference, they counter at
tackled to-day, recovering not only the
ground they conceded in earlier en-
gasements, but carrying the Entente
labor representative further than thew
have ever gone before toward stating
their war aims.
1t was a notable achievement for the
veteran Gompers, d well organized
operation, adroitly carried out. The
allied labor bodies are now committed
to programme which dema,Ms that
the war shall be prosecuted until the
enemy is driven from all the countries
he has invaded and the enemy armies
are no longer under the sway Of the
Prussian autocrats
Pacifsts Cut Sorry Figure
A fair Interpretation Of this decision
would be THAT Allied labor will not
make peace until the status quo ante
is established and the Hohen&llern
dynasty is overthrown.
1t is possible that some sections will
rot go so far as that, but certainly
that is the meaning which many of
the delegates desire placed upon the
resolution adopted after long debate.
The paciists cut sorry figure inS to-
days session.
Sidney Webb and J. II. Thomas
who spoke against the resolution on
The ground that this was a capitalistic
and lmperlalistic war, rather than a
struggle between autocracy and democ-
racy. All through the day Gompers
ard Frey guided and protected the long
war aims resolution, which is really
combination of Wilson's speech and an
all-war platform.
AS eventually adopted, the Russian
resolution represented considera bic
compromise on the part Of those who
opposed Allied intervention. With the
exception of Serbian delegates, the vote
was unanimous that, "it is the confer
ences opinion that in conformity with
article six Of the Presidents fourteen
points, the present effort of the Allied
people must be Influenced solely bv a
genuine desire to help for freedom and
democracy and toward making the
groups Of the revolution permanently
secure
When some delegates attempted to
explain their votes lively discussion
arose. finally ending with the confer
cnce shutting off further speaking. 1t
was decided to vote in the same man.
ner as at former conferences. The
American delegation has twenty votes
under this scheme.
At the end Of the conference Jean
Longuet, who has been suspected OF
being Caillaux supporter, raised the
question of meeting with enemy repre-
sentatives. This was veritablc bomb
shell, which threw the whole confer
cncc into an uproar. Longuct favored
an unconditional meeting with tho
enemy. stating that France already had
100000 dead and that continuation
of the war meant determination of
France.
Unconditional Meeting Defeated
The voGe taken on the amendment to
thc war aims resolutions. stating that
the German Socialists replies we're
only difficulty and not an obstacle to
an inter ational conference, showed
that Only twenty-five out Of ninety
delegates favored an unconditional
meeting.
Henderson, replying to Longuet, said
that British labor couldn't possibly
meet the German representatives until
they had accepted labor's platform, in
cluding compensation as we'll as evac-
uation of Belgium, and willingness TO
approach the Alsace- Lorraine question
as matter of right and wrong.
Here Gompers suffered his only re-
verse in highly successful day. He
tried TO commit the conference to an
alternative amendement, stating, eve
will meet at a conference with those
only of the Central Powers who are in
open revolt against their autocratic
government" The conference rejected
this amendment by a vote of 63 to 26.
Gompers declared that the Amer.-
cans were determined not to meet with
enemy leaders until they have crushed
their autocratic government or we
have crushed it for them
With the Americans abstaining. IA
resolution was adopted warning the
government that labor's patience was
being rapidly exhausted by continued
such as the refusal of pass
ports.
With the adjournmen. OF the co.,
ference Gompers could feel we'll salts
fed, and he seemed happier tonight
than at any time since his arrival IN