New-York tribune., 1918-06-25
Question of Ending Party
Truce Uppermost Be-
fore Meeting
Party Split !Eoreseen
French and Italian Delegates
to Attend Meetings Begin
ming Wednesday
By Arthur S. Draper
Especial Cable to The Tribune,

Nopectdt CG0te to The TTtbuue)
Copyright. 1918. by Tho Tribune Associ.tlon)
LONDON, June 24.-The labor con-
terence opening here Wednesday will
decide issues profoundly affecting
Great Britain's course in the war. Be-
lore the conference ends the country
Will know whether the Henderson, An
derson and Smillie faction or the min
isterial group, composed of Roberts,
Barnes and Walsh, speaks for organ
lied labor
The chief issue up for decision is
the resolution introduced by a labor
executive, calling for the abandonment
or political truce during the war.
However the conference decides, there
VIII be split in the party.
Little difference can be found in the
publlc declarations for. league policy
by Henderson, who heads the labor op-
position to government, and by Barnes,
the Labor member Of the War Cabinet
Ihe opposition declares that the gov
ernment made poor use of the diplo-
matte weapon, that its Russian policy,
or lack of policy, has hurt the Allied
cause; that its secret treaties have
prolonged the war and would not bear
the light, and that it's domestic policy
is not to the best interests Of labor.
Swedish Leader to Speak
Government labor members hold that
the present is no time for political
strife, and that the national unity can
not be preserved unless labor supports
the government.
The French and Italian Socialists
will attend the conference, and Brant-
ing, the Swedish leader, will speak for
the scandinavian neutrals. One of the
chief questions discussed will be an in
ternatlonal conference for the consid-
Grafton of war aims and peace. The
conference will vote on the project of
making plans for an early gathering of
representatives of belligerents and
neutrals.
According to labor estimates, it's ex,
treme left, the pacifst wing, represents
only about 5 per cent Of the Labor
party. On the other hand, about pc,
cent on the extreme right hold the
same views as American labor. Of the
bulk, about 2 per cent support the be.
lief that the war would be shortene eo
by appealing to the enemy Socialist
parties over the heads of the rulers by
means of international labor confer.
ances including enemy delegates.
Factions Are Deadly Foes
The two wings, of the British Labo,
party are deadly enemies. 1t is under.
stood that the extreme left at the con.
ference will propose a resolution call.
ing upon labor ministers to resigr
from the government. All previous
British Labor conferences confirmed the
ministers positions, supporting theil
continuance in office, but if the party
truce is declared terminated the left
faction will wish to push matters fur.
ther.
Henderson is believed to be more or
sess neutral on the subject of the min
listers remaining in office, although
supporting the termination of the party
truce. Labor leaders state that the
action for termination of the truce was
forced upon them by local organiza-
tions which became restive, desiring
labor now to stand out from other par
ties and fight for it's ideals. Local
Labor organizations which wanted to
contest two recent by-elections were
unable to receive the official indorse-
ment of the central organization be-
cause of the party truce, and this
brought the feeling on the subject to a
hand