New-York tribune., 1918-01-10
London Applauds
Presidents Speech
Magma Charta of Fut-
ure," Declares Press;
Drum Fire on Moral
Position" j,

LONDON, Jan. 9.-Representativeso ~
BRITISH labor issued manifesto TODAY
glvlng wholehearted support to the
programme presented in President Will
sons speech yesterday. The declar-
alton says that "in Essential respects it
is so similar to that which British Ia
Dor put forward that we need NOT die
euss any points of difference in do
tail"
Inc Presidents message is estimated
here as heavy and perhaps decisive
reinforcement in "the diplomatic Of
fenslve"-a form of warfare which
many publicists have been asking for
as secondary only by a small measure
IN Importance to the warfare of arms
The Liberals of Great Britain have
welcomed it with almost wholehearted
approval as platform to which thew
can subscribe. while the Conservatives
naturally find ground for some dissent
IN details to the Presidents propramnos
1or making the world safe for democ-
racy. '- ue'noe-
Prompt Endorsement by Labor
The Labor Party to-day gave prompt
lndorsement to the Presidents por-
eiayai OF the American war aims with
9uI reservations. The editorials in the
L!pera! papers and interviews with
Liberal, Labor and Socialistic public
men were of the same tenor.
Inc only general note of skepticism
ana aIn.1 dissent was caused by President
wilson's proposal for freedom of the
seas" The people of the one nation
OF the world whose power and safety
rest almost wholly on her sea strength
are not prepared to give away one of
the strongest weapons in her armory
without knowing exactly what they
would lose or gain by doing so.
g old system of blockade oractised
by America in the Civil We- and the
seizure of private property at sea has
been one OF the strongest war assets
since the days of the Napoleonic wars.
Inc Liberal papers say that this could
not be abandoned except under a sye-
tenn OF league of nations which would
prevent wars, and few persons here arc
yet convinced that the league of ma
tions plan is really a practical posi-
bility.
Russian Policy Approved
The one point in the Presidents ad-
dress which the Liberals approve with
the greatest enthusiasm is the Presi-
dents sympathetic attitude toward
Russia, matter in which they think
British diplomacy has been too slow
and cold sympathy toward the present
Russian Regime has warmed greatly
since Lenine and Trotzky rejected the
German terms. But apparently the
general belief is that the Bolsheviki
n h.
than the Industrial Workers of the
World could claim to represent the
United States
All eyes are now turned toward
Germany. The newspaper reports tell
of acute political strife between the
military and the Junkers, who stand
IN the forefront of the imperalistic
aims, and the parties which may still
support the Reichstag resolution.
Some Of the papers say that the Ger
mans are only "shamming dead" and
mat their successes in arms have re-
klndied their old ambition for the DOM
ination OF Europe. The question is
being asked everywhere: "Will the
censorship permit all the German peo-
pie to read President Wilson's mes
sage"
1T is not expected or hoped that in
the present chaos of Russia the Presi
dents words can reach the ears of all
the Russian people.
British Labor Manifesto
The manifesto of the Labor party
considers that President Wilson'S dec
iaratlon IN favor of open diplomacy
and in support Of revolutionary Russia
will make his speech one of the classic
utterances OF Allied statesmanship dun
ing the war. and in the detailed pro-
gfamme a ) set forth the British Labor
party can find no point upon which
Allied democracy is likely TO disagree -
The Presidents reference 10 the
freedom of the seas is welcomed on
account OF its lucidity and breadth of
oe1lniuon. And 1t Is pointed out that
the enemy cannot challenge its inter,
pretatlon If he IS sincere in his repudi-
alton OF aggressive intentions. while no
other formula meets so fully the stip-
uiations that an island ike Britain ia
bound to make to insure it's own safety
and that of the empire"
Henderson Signs Document
The manifesto was adopted at q Joint
meeting of the parliamentary commit
tee of the Trades Union Congress and
the national executive committee of
the Labor party, called to consider the
message. 1t is signed by Arthur Hen
derson and Charles William Bower
man, Labor Members of Parliament, as
we'll az by other representatives Of
labor. It declares:
"The spirit of the historic document
is the spirit to which democracy all
over the world cin respond, and If it
reaches the people OF the Central Pow
crs we believe it will rcinvigorate the
popular movement toward peace in
those countries now under the yoke of
Prusslan militarism and autocracy and
give their demands for peace a weight
and authority that cannot be denied.
IN fact. we may say that peace ne
gotiations have n1w begun and that the
world waits for proofs that the Central