New-York tribune., 1918-06-27
Country as Sick of Pact as
Il Is of the Government,
Says Miners Head
But Party Pledges
Strength to War
French, Swedish and Bel
gian Delegates at Trade
Unionists' Conference

LONDON, June 26.--Thc British La
Dor party at its conference held here
to-day passed resolution to the ef-
feet that the party political truce
which has been in effect in Great Brit
ain since early in the war should no
longer be recognized. Delegates rep
resenting 1,704,o0 votes favored the
resolution, while representatives OF
$4,000 votes we're against 1t.
Arthur Henderson, former member
of the Cabinet without portfolio, IN
moving the resolution that a political
truce should no longer be recognized
said that if the resolution were read
along with the context it could have
no other meaning but that the truce
should no longer be recognized regard
ing by-elections.
There had been no signed truce be-
tween the Labor party and the govern
ment since David Lloyd George came
into power, Mr.. Henderson continued
as the government desired to lnciude
words which the Labor party would
II u. ~
however owing to the action OF GER
tain parties in by-elections, the speak
er declared He had hoped that the
cid truce would be continued, because
it was much better on the whole not
to contest by-elections.
The executive Of the party. Mr..
Henderson continued, was of the opln-
ion that the Labor representatives
should not be withdrawn from the gov
crnment.
Robert Smillie, leader of the miners
organization, expressed surprise at MI.
Henderson's statement.
eve are going to end the truce to-
day" he declared, "for the country is
as sick of the truce as it is of the gov
crnment."
At the opening of the conference W.
F. Purdy, the presiding officer, made 1t
clear that there would be no wavering
among the members of the party in
their determination to bring the war
TO successful conclusion. Having
spoken Of the necessity for recon
structing the party, Chairman Purdy
said:
"But let us not forget that all plans
for reconstruction and all hope of re-
building a better social and industrial
life after the war depend on one
cardinal fact-which, whether we will
It or not, is ever present-and that is
the winning of the war, not the win
ming of the war out of spirit of re-
Yenge. but because labor the world
over has everything to gain by the
crushing of that spirit of militarism
and domination which has been the
outstanding policy of the Central
Powers Tor generations.
"The Russian and Rumanian peace
conditions" continued the sneakar
throw an Illuminating light on the
peace terms they would impose if they
obtained victory. We cannot and viii
not accept any such terms. The trade
union labor movement has declared
that it wants no inconclusive peace
The war aims of the government rep
resent what we are fighting for, no
negotiating for. These principles ad
init of no compromise. They repre-
sent athe principles on which, we be
lieve, genuine and world peace cal
be secured"
In addition to many British repre-
sentatives, the conference was attend
ed by Albert Thomas, the French So
cialist leader; Hjalmar Branting, tn
prominent Swedish Socialist; Emil
Vandervelde. the Belgian Minister q
Munitions, and Camille Huysmans, tn
Beleian secretary of the internations
Socialist organization.