Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1918-01-16
LABOR PARTY
APPEALS FOR
GOOD WISHES
OF RUSSIANS
English People Issue Mani
festo to Dominant Party
of Russia, Asking Co-opera-
ton for Great Cause.


LONDON. Jan. Is. - The British
Labor party in n message TO the Rus
sian people made public today an
nOuneed that the British people accept
ed the Russian principle OF self-deter-
mination OF peoples and no annexation
Tor the British empire. particularly in
the middle east. Africa and India.
ThemesSagewhich was issued BY the
labor party in conjunction with the
parliamentary committee Of the trades
union congress. says;
We have reached a crisis in the
war. The negotiations AT BreSt-Iit-
Ovsk have been interrupted because
the Germans have refused to admit
the principle of Self-determination OF
peoples and the doctrine Of no annex
ationS. In thus acting the central
powers are speaking clearly in the
name OF 3 militarist state,
England Must Speak
In this crisis the British people
must speak because the Russians can
only succeed in their great and peri
lOUs task il supported by the people
everywhere. The British people must
proclaim TO Russia and the central
/ powers that its aim is identical with
( RuSsia'S. that we. too. see no solution
for the evils Of militariSm except self
determination and no indemnities.
In applying this Russian principle
/ TO our own case. we are conscious OF
I the problem raised. but We 90 not
3 shrink therefrom. The British people
accept the principle OF no anneNa-
tions for the British empire, This ap-
plies in our case TO the middle east.
F Africa and India
[ we wish to remind the Russian
Z people that Great Britain. taught by
I the loss Of the American colonies in
I the eighteenth century. was the first
modern state TO grant complete self
{ determination TO any group OF its in
habitants. for example. the dOminions
, of Canada. Australia. South Africa
and New Zealand. We accept the
principle also for IndiS and other de-
I Tendencies of the British empire.
/ though we believe that the record OF
the British government here gives lit
/ tie occasion for reprOaeh.
Respect Sovereignty
I'VE intend 70 meet this by more
rapid development OF self-government
[ . respect the sovereign independence
of the Turkish people in their national
! home. but we believe that the dOmi-
nation of their government over other
/ people is n hindrSnce TO their own na-
tiOnal development
/ We adjurc the peoples OF central
Z Europe 70 declare themselves or make
their governments speak for them in
/ answer TO Russia and ourselves, We
cali on them TO renounce annexation
I in Europe with the same good faith in
7 which we are renOuncing them in Asia.
I We call on them TO give the same self
I determination to the French. AlSStian.
+ Italian. Polish ana Danish members
I of thei rstates as Russia has given to
I Finland. Courland. Lith0Snia and Rus
sian Poland"
/ The manifesto concludes;
The family interests Of dynaStieS
or the desire of the German. Austrian
! and Magyar governing classes 10 DOM
mate other classes and nationahtieS.
must no more be suffered To prevent
I selfdeterminatiOn in central Europe.
and thereby mPeril il in Europe as a
I whole. than the interests OF British inn
! perialism or British capitalism must
/ be suffered to do elsewhere.
Peoples OF central Europe; IhtS
Z catastrophe Of the human race. this
I fatal schism in the civilized world can
only be ended BY the defeat OF mill
tarism on both sides and by the vic,
tory on both sides Of moral and ntel>
. lectual fair dealing. II the world Is 10
he saved il must be saved by good
I faith and reciprocity on the part OF the
All Do not fail us now. DO not let
YOUR governments drive the British
I people. as they are driving the Rus
I sian people. into the terrible choice
4 between continuing the war and aean-
save the world.
If this choice is forced upon us, we
shall choose. as Russia chose. We
shall continue. but the responsibility
viii be yours.