Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-03
|vAhDERvELDE DISCUSSES
PROGRAM FOR SOCIALISTS
Says There Can BE No Peace. E,-
ccpt by Defeat OF .Aggrcs-
sivc Imperialism.
EAvoRs SOCIETY or NATIONS
Belgian Teacher Declares II Is Not
Part Of Policy to Destroy Ger
many, but King OF Prussia Must
BE Ousted.
BE EMILE VtNDEItNEIDI:.
belgian Spciuiist Leader and Minister
of state.
aforementioned News Bureau


Thanks, in spite Of everything. "a
the French Revolutions thanks 10 the
efforts OF the French Socialists: but
thanks chiefly. TO this essential fact.
that neither in the uu,ed States nor
in Great Britain can amy government
held together without the support Of the
organized p:ole;aria;s, tho peoples OF
the entente countries have finally sue
cecded in obtaining a clear and precise
definition G.: their war aims.
December l.. 1917. is a date 10 re-
member. Il was then that the quail
fed representatives Of the British
proietar.at insisted on public dccIa-
ration from their government-onic
and precision the objects which the
allied powers had IN view in Contin-
uing the war. On January . the Pre-
mier replied TO them in person by what
was most APPLY called tho most i'm
portant state document issued since the
declaration OF war" Three days after
wards, like a Resembling echo from
the other side Of the ocean. the com
mandine voice Of President Wilson pro-
claimed the Magma Charia OF the
worlds peace (as il will he regarded
in the future).
The entente is certainly pledged by
these declarations, 10 which NM.
Clemenceau and Pichon have subscribed.
The wholesome elements OF the Russian
revolution have baaed their program
upon them. Small oppressed nations
sec IN them the hope of their deliV-
GRANGE; and if IN either country certain
persons hesitate TO accept them fully.
we may be sure that their difficulties
will disappear like snow before the
sun the day all the workers In the
allied countries speak with tho impos-
ing nrmncss. decision and unaniinity
of tho British proloiariat.
Everywhere there is :; demand for
new collective declaration. The en-
tcnte governments. which formerly con-
corded their reply to tho united States
arc required 10 re.enforce with their
authority the declarations OF Lloyd
George and President Wilson.
No one wishes ii more than we do,
hut how easy for the governments to
make objections unless the workers and
Socialists OF the allied countries under
stand each other as to the basic policy
OF their own program.
Our English comrades have under
stood that, and have proposed in con-
sequence new meeting OF an inter
the idea. but 1t is not sufficient thai.
the conference meets; 1t must reach
decisions.
Let MS say frankly ,hat the con-
ference held in London las, autumn
was s,illborn. II wc wish to avoid
that we must take care that this next
conference really and sincerely repre-
sents all the organized clements or the
entente Drolctariat. That is the fear.
and do not hesitate 10 say that this
object VIII not ho called /, The old
system OF voting and summoning meet
+. inEs is retained. for IL no longer meets
: the new war conditions.
\ AMERICAN VOTE YALUELEss
WITHOUT FEDERATION or LABOR
Frs, OF all. VIVA, is the vaiuo ot tho
American vote unless IL includes that OF
the American Federation OF Labor. the
greatest organization OF workers in the
United States?
In the second place. what weigh: Will
the deciseS& have II we disregard the
numerical IMPORTANCE OF The orcaniza-
/ lions represented. II the vote Of soma
thousands OF militant Sooiaiists--in-
c!ined by the circumstances OF their
election 10 extreme vicws--h balances or
takes precedence OF the vote OF the Gold
majority Of the biz battal.ons ard mil
lions OF workers grouped in the srea.
trade unions?
II one wishes, as one ought 10 wish.
that tho decisions OF this conference
express the real view OF the masses
tho great divisiona OF the organized
proletariat must be appropriately repre-
sented. Perhaps one Will object that
tho goal 10 DE reached in such al as
y sembly is not majority vote so much
4 rs unanimous agreement whereby. alone
the resolutions will have their full e,
. feet;
Very we'll, but experience proves tina,
IN the conferences whcrc one Is sup.
posed not 20 vote, one gives token
vote For that reason we regard +.
as Indispensable that before calling a
= pienary assembly the delegates should
: decide exactly how Il is TO be sum
moned and how Il will VOTE, hasten
to add that II these preliminary meas
= nres are taken. Il the minority arii-
e hc!a.ly minated does not impede tho
= expression OF the ma ori;y view. there
:. shoulu be n" serious difficulty IN reach.
8 Ing definition OF war aims as we,,
/. rs defining the conditions %! demo
/. cratic peace These subjects shouid
: amongst US.
:. Reread. for example the revolutions
y OF the Blachpoo! Congress the replies
y or the French Socialists 20 the S,ock
= holm questions. our Belgian memo
{. randun 10 tho Dutch Scandinavian com.
\ m!t.ce, and YOU vii! sec lie same ide,s
= east in almost Identical molds From
y the poin, OF view Of principles cn,nci.
q ated, they are scarcely dir.-er, -,o,,
- what the delegates .: i.euirl ana Urn,
Z, zky are saying a. Crest fitoysk. Eli
r am hound 10 add tia. one can II,
= OF tho same mind in p-,ncip!ee. bn,
= differ totally IN action.
= BoLSHENIkI BETRSY
y BELGIUM AND pOIA\I
= \ Bo!shevik and an English workr
;. can both declare that Ee!G ium ough
= 10 be liberated and Poland set free
3. but one by his desert!on delivers then
~ to the central empires. the Other m ,,