New-York tribune., 1918-06-27
U.S.. Mission Has Divided
The Socialists of France
Eyes of Party Members Opened by American Labor En-
voys; Concrete Win-the-War View Shadows
Opinions Of Majority Leader Thomas

lhomas refused to subscribe and tie
revelations Of his bias or indecision
which cost him the respect Of serious
minded people who believe in national
ISM OF the patriotic type as against the
indefinite brand which Thomas seems
TO unfold in this interview
Caused Division in
Majority Group
This circumstance, too. has created
dlvlsion IN the Majority group be-
tween those following their patriotic
impulses and Varenne and those ad-
nnerlng to Thomas. But as the real
ieellng among many of those remain
ing outwardly loyal to Thomas really
approved the action of Varenne and
his confreres. some here profess to be
looking toward Varenne and Marcel
Ssembat, and Renandel, editor Of
'L,Humanite' for future leadership.
The Centre group, composed of re-
spectacle citizens that claim to uphold
the war, seeks to affirm the inde-
pendence of their party as class party
against others, even though democratic
parties. in opposition to the majority,
which favors accord with the so-called
democratic party comprising Radicals,
radical Socialists am Independent So
NAOtAoSos AIo lCoUcIS are MaCCeI C2Clln
and Ernest Lafont, and Its weakness is
also that Of Thomas's, viz, repeated
abandonment of principle by conces-
sion to the Left or Minority group and
a willingness to do anything to keep
peace in the socialist family.
Neither the Centre nor the Majority
group is now favorable to a peace
at any price to end the war, but both
favor "peace of ng"-if any
one can say precisely what that may
mean.
The aim Of the Left or Minority
group, led by Longuet and Presse-
man, is to keep the Socialist party on
the same ground of class distinction as
association between other groups Of
Socialists and the Democratic party
Outside of the Socialist party itself
however, the minority is quite an in
significant element Of Socialist or other
French life just now.
The Independent Socialists, of whom
are Painleve and Viviani, as the most
important, serious group, differ from
the others on the broad fact of belief
in a national policy first, while the
other Socialists believe i'll class first
on questions of property, and in gen
eral sanity of thought and purpose.
Only Issue
ls Loyalty
The truth is that in matters touch
ing present national concern and policy
patriotic Socialists can have no issue
men, and, in the straining effort of Ger.
tain irresponsible elements to fird one
wander into vague definitions and in
consequent cOntrOVorSv
The coming of the American Mission
last month was an event in French
Socialist and industrial life. 1t was
the most worth while mission that has
come from America out of a number
of mere junketing parties. 1t made q
great and lasting impression on France
by its frank, sound sentiment, as well
as for the cosmopolitan character o1
its membership. That labor, business
Journalist, educational interests shoule
be together on one mission was quite
outside French understanding.
At the final dinner given them il
Paris, which / had the fortune to at
tend, this. expression of the mission
was emphasized as indicating the unity
for which America stands in this wal
tc beat the Boche. Unity in the line
and unity behind the line.
The immediate, concrete result of the
missions visit to France was the di.
vision in the majority Socialist grour
and the Endorsement by forty of the
100 Socialist Parliament members, rs
already referred to, of the missions
platform as set forth in the following
words of its chairman and American
labor representative, James Wilson:
There should be no conference with
the German workers so long as the wa,
lasts. This is not the time to make
peace. The business that should oc-
cupy our entire attention is to win the
war, and to the workingman 1 would
say that if he expects to have that in
dustrial freedom and democracy to
which he is justly entitled he must
support his government in order to
make sure that political democracy is
maintained throughout the world. With
out political democracy there can be no
industrial democracy"
Keep this in mind while reading the
interview with NJ. Thomas.