New-York tribune., 1918-03-08
Socialists Favor
Modification of
Anti-War Plank
Crisis in Russia and Japan's S
Proposals Causes
Shift
May Revise Platform
Hillquit Says Party Is for
Resistance to Russian
Invasion
May Revise Platform

For the first time since America S
entry into the war tho Socialist party
is in accord with at least one war pol
lev OF President Wilson, and the
growth Of sentiment in favor of that
uoicy-which was expressed in the
Presidents four principles upon which,
on February II, he declared that peace
should be based is causing Socialist
leaders to consider whether change
should not be made in the Socialists
anti-war platform adopted at St Louis
last summer.
Sentiment has been growing in the
Socialist party that the party should
take some definite action In regard to
the German invasion OF Russia. While
the party leaders are not considering a
fiat reversal of their st. Louis anti
war pledge, they arc being moved by a
belief that d modification of that
pledge may soon be necessary.
Conference Near. Says Hillquit
Morris Iillquit. a member of the So
clalist National Executive Committee,
said yesterday that "it seems altogeth
cr probable' that a conference OF the
committee may soon DC CailCu III view
OF the Russian situation.
He declared that events in Russia
had not vet definitely shaped them
selves to make the conference immedi-
ately imperative, because the Social
lists arc waiting to iearn what attitude
this country will assume toward the
Russian revolutionary government as
opposed to the Germans and the atti-
tude it will take in regard to Japan s
threatened invasion of Siberia.
But said Mr.. HlllQuit. "thc peace
principles laid down by President Viii
son are in accord with the Socialists
lists. for the first time since the war
may be said 10 be in harmony with 4
war policy of the government
rs that harmony alone sufficient to
warrant a change in the Socialist
party's antwar policy?" Nj. Hillquit
was asked.
It seems tnat events since last sum
mer might make it advisable 20 nodi-
fy our platform But we have yet to
see whether our government will sup
port the Russian revolutionary govern
ment as opposed to Germany on one
hand and Japan on the other.
Socialists Favor Democracy
The Socialists favor supporting the
Russian democracy against both Ger
many and Japan. They feel that Japan
by an invasion of Asiatic Russia would
be doing Just what Germany is doing
ment takes decisive stand against
these invasions and supports the Rus
sian democracy. then the Socialist
party undoubtedly will stand behind
our government. and to this extent
we would modify our st. Louis anti
war pledge"
when you speak of giving support
20 the Russian democracy do you mean
military support? Would the Social
lists then not not be coming out il
favor of war ?''
THE Socialists are opposed to war ii
general, but when the question of say
Russian revolutionary government is
involved the Socialists would favor
giving military support We woult
favor war against both Gcrmany's an(
Japan invasion of Russia"
determination on the part of the
United States to support the Russians
Mr. Hillquit said. would undoubtedly
result in an immediate conference Of
the Socialist executive committee. This
committee is composed of Mr.. Hillquit
Seymour Stedman, Chicago; Victor l.
Berger OF Milwaukee; Anna A. Maley
of Minneapolis, and John Work, of Chi
eago.
The fou< peace principles upor
which Mr. Hillout said the Socialists
are in accord with President Wilson
are those in which the President il
mis- message to Congress on February
II declared, in part, that every part
os the final settlement must be baseC
upon the essential justice Of that par
ticular case; that peoples and prov
inces are not TO be bartered"; that
every territorial settlement involved
in this war must be made in the inter
est and for the benefit Of the popu
lations concerned" and that ''all vel
defined national aspirations shall bt
accorded the utmost satisfaction