The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-23
ALLIED SOCIALISTS
DESERVING PACIFISM
Charles Edward Russell, Back
From Europe, Describes
Change in War Views.
STAND OF U. 8. THE CAUSE
Faith in America Is Crushing
Defeatism Propaganda
Of Old Party.

Anti-war sentiment among the So
cialists Of allied Europe IL rapidly skid
ding down the toboggan OF opinion. ac-
cording to Charles Edward Russell.
Socialist writer and lecturer. ana A. NJ.
Simons, both members Of commission
appointed by the Social Democratic
League to survey conditions this sum-
mer among Socialists In England. France
and Italy and TO explain to them the
attitude OF America
There are still pacihsts In these
countries. said Mr.. Russell, but they
are too few TO be Of any consequence.
The spirit Of defeatism 10 stronger In
italy than elsewhere but even there
1t Is making itself felt but slightly. Two
reasons are given for the change of
front: First. the recent allied successes
in France, and second. the treatment OF
peace aims and the labor situation by
President Wilson.
President wilson's treatment OF
peace aims and the labor situation and
his demands for a democratic peace.
also for a league Of nations and dis
armament" said Mr.. Simons, has been
the greatest influence in breaking
Socialist opposition to war"
With Mr.. Russell and Mr.. SimonS. who
returned to America yesterday aboard a
British ship. were Louis kopelin OF
Kansas. editor of the Neto Appeal, and
Alexander Howst of Pittsburs. John
Spargo, the NTH member Of the com.
mission. remained in Italy to continue
his propaganda work until November
All OF these men are members Of the
Social Democratic League. composed OF
Socialists who broke away from the
party headed by Hillquit and Berger be.
cause Of its war attitude.
Great Change in Views.
! Mr.. Russell went to London in April
and opened an ohice. The others fol.
lowed In July. since which time they
have come In intimate contact witt
every shade OF opinion in the countries
! they visited. Before the recent smashet
OF Marshal Foch English Socialists were
frankly in favor of peace by neeotia.
ton. Now they do not want negotiat ions
until German militarism has been de.
feated.
AZ to the war itself, Mr. Russell pre-.
diets II will be over by next spring. but
Mr. Simons, although he did not explain
his opinion. does not believe this Is
possible, or certainly not probable.
IF the Allies with no more thar
100000 Americans could break tn.
Hindenburg line in two places" said
Mr.. Russell. giving the reason for hi.
b optimism with double that number mex
spring they ought to be able to breai
through in twenty-five places. Once
the allied armies are on German sol
the German people will be defeated anG
the German armies. lacking their sup
port. will also be defeated"
The COmmisaion arrival almost At.
rectly from a meeting of the British
trade unionists at Derby. where q res,
olution demanding an immediate peace
BY negotiation. which had been placed
on the table two months before with
every prospect Of adoption. was with.
drawn. For II was substituted one calIinp
for negotiations only after the German
armies had been driven out OF France
and Belgium. The trade unionists rep
resent millions OF workers.
Faith in Sincerity of L. $.
The first resolution" says the report
OF the commission made public yester
| day, was frankly defeatist. Tho sue
cesesful one presupposes a German mill
| tary defeat. There Is still much paciflsn
| among the workers OF Great Britain. L
| Is diminishing largely because Of a grow
! ing knowledge of Americas military anc
financial strength, and most OF all be
cause OF faith in the sincerity of Amer
ica's war aims.
Here is the key to the whole relation
OF labor to the war Everywhere. ever
among the most fanatical adherents o
pacihsm. We found faith in the honest.
of and an eagerness 10 defend the wa
aims announced by President Wilson"
| Soon after the commission reache,
| Enrnna ~ found Tn M /,
especially. serious conditions in Social
list circles. They had no conception o
what America was doing and had beei
persuaded by German propaganda tina
this country was divided in its attitud
and that there had been a serious spill
In the Socialist party here. This sit
uation the commission speedily remedled
"Pacifsm and defeatism are on tn
decline in France" the report continues
Even Jean Longuet. the Socialist apps
tie OF pacifsm. declares he favors ma
tional defence and the war aims Of on
President. Longuet. who Is a close stu
dent OF the American Socialist move
ment. has recently denounced the posi-
ton of the American Socialist party an
declared his disagreement with the tao
tics OF Hillquit and Berger. In hi
paper. Le Populatre, he defended tn
American Socialists who left tho Social
list party because OF its extreme anti
war position. Longuet Is a grandson o
Karl Marx.
"Paeiflsm is strongest and most dan
Igerous in Italy. but Is declining eve
there. The danger is not yet passed. Blu
large sections OF the Socialist and unto
movement are making a splendid an
successful fight against pacifsm.
Italy needs food. fuel and help i
many ways. The giving OF that hel
will do much TO strengthen morale, bu
there. as in France and England, tn
greatest force In rallying labor to figh
for decisive victory is the position G
President Wilson In demanding a demo
cratic prosecution Of the war and jus
peace after Its conclusion.
This enlightened position has bee
worth many divisions to the Allies o
the other hand every manifestation O
Imperialism. every defence OF militar
ism. every statement indicating prepare
tion for future wars, every snoer a
a league of nations and universal dis
armament. IL worth many divisions I
Hindenburg.
Both the battle front and the interio
front must be kept strong and un
broken"