The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-04-17
They Say Flight Oh"

BY reginald Wright KAUFMAN, CT
The Vigilantes, Mr.. kauffn an IS
now at the front in France.)
Paris, April 1.-Once again the
German Socialists-those ''Interna-
tionalists" who voted for the first
war-budget and supported the kai-
ser in his every important measure
since the midsummer of 1914-haye
been the willing catspaw of reutonic
imperialism. Once again they have
approached the workers organiza-
tions in Belgium with the proposal
that these Belgian workers use their
influence toward pro-German peace.
And once again, the Belgian workers
have repudiated the proposition.
For sometime past the "feelers"
have been out. Through various I'M
derground means, the German Social
Democrats have been representing to
members of various Belgian unions,
and especially of those composed of
Catholic workingmen, that some
socialists in the allied countries were
pacifiStic, that nationalism ought to
be subordinated to realization that
this is a war in which the capitalists
of the Entente and its fellows are
exploiting their workers, and that it
is high time those workers take the
issue into their own hands and in
sist upon peace guaranteed by the
pledged word of Germany.
Now the Considerations of Chris
tan and Free Syndicates of Belgium
have issued a formal reply. That re-
ply is a denial of the German Social
Democrats assertions and fiat re-
fusal of all proposals made. 1t has
Just now been handed to me, signed
by the president, H. Heyman, now
resident in France, by the yice-presi-
dent, E. Van Quaquebeke, at present
a refugee in Holland, and by the sec
rotary, J. Roscam, whose offices are
in London.
The independence of the Nation
is for every man, whatever be his
condition, the first guarantee of lib
erty and of dignity. The present
war is a war Of nations and not
war of classes; among the enemy, all
the socialist workmen as well as
the other social classes are ranged in
battle behind their governments.
The conduct of the war and the dl-
rection of diplomatic action ought to
belong to responsible Governments
and not to groups of particular ones
where responsibility is, so there
must be authority. If it were best
to assure oneself of the sincerity of
the pacific dispositions which the
Central Empires are setting forth, in
ternational law and International
usage would furnish to this end the
means of mediations and of the good
offices of neutral power.
The Confederation, interpreting
the opinion of Belgian workers and
speaking, above all, in the name of
its 10000 workmen and Christian
employees organized syndically, pro-
tests against all parole, overture or
resolution of nature to trouble the
conscience of the Belgian laboring
class; puts aside without reserve all
idea of rapprochement with the enc
my organization; declares that ma
noeuvres of the kind, enterprises I'M
der the illusory pretext of Fastening
the hour of peace, have ended until
now only in lamentable failures as
in Russia, and denounces the grow
ing peril of them; acclaimS the King,
symbol of the Nation, and the Army,
Guardian of our hopes; and, finally,
counts on only the vigilance of legiti-
mate government to assure, the mo-
ment that events permit, a just and
durable peace, the liberation of the
Nation and its complete restoration.
The American Federation of La
Dor has itself not spoken more
strongly in the same cause than these
exiled workingmen of Belgium. They
are, for the most part. dispossessed
of all their worldly goods, fighting in
the trenches of Western Flanders.
ignorant of the very whereabouts of
their wives and families. They have
now been thus situated for well
nigh four years-yet they want only
to fight on. 1t is an example worth
the consideration of certain elements
in what was once the sincere eocia-
list Party of America.