Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-08-13
MUST PROVE
THAT AMERICA
BACKS WILSON
Must Show that His Terms
are Supported to Defeat
German Peace Drive.

London, July 25-(Correspondence
of the Associated Press.)-Members
Of the mission sentHt to England and
France by the Social Democratic
league Of America declare that the
way to defeat the expected German
peace drive is to convince the social
list and labor leaders Of the entente
behind President. Wilson and backs
up his peace terms to the limit. /,
Their purpose in coming to Europe
to confer with socialist and labor Lead
ers of England and France is to con-
vince them that American socialists
and working men are in unit in sup
port of President Wilson's peace
terms.
The mission is composed Of John
Spargo, A. M. Simons, Louis Zeppelin
and Alexander Howat, the latter Of
the Kansas Mine Works.
The next vital step" they said in
Press before leaving for France, sis to
convince the world of labor that the
whole people of the United States is
devoting its fighting strength to moth
ing more or less than to secure the
peace laid down by President Wilson.
"Once this fact is accepted by the
socialists Of the Allied nations there
will be an end of pacifsm there and
a spread of peace sentiment in Aus
tria and Germany. Already it is claim
ed that the socialists Of Austria and
Germany have agreed to accept SUBJ
stantially these terms. If this is true
the need Of an acknowledgement social
list conference disappears since the
socialists of all nations will have
agreed upon the peace terms asked
by the United States.
whether the expected German
peace offensive finds sufficient re-
spouse among the labor and socialists
bodies of the entente nations to in
jure morale to the extent that Ger
many may obtain peace while her
military ~autocracy remains a danger
to democratic nations depends largely
upon he possibility Of convincing
such bodies that America. stands
solidly behind President Wilson's
peace terms.
THE overwhelming mass of British
laborers and socialists wish to win the
war. They Ire misrepresented by a
small group controlling their political
organization. Even this group protests
its desire for victory, but some believe
victory impossible and others charge
that II obtained it will be used by i'm
perialists to pave the way t future
wars.
Yet all, pacinst or pro-war, join
In praise Of President Wilson'S pro-
gram. Thorough discussion with rep
resentatives of every shade Of labor
and socialist opinion shows that there
is almost unanimous and enthusiastic
agreement upon this point. President
Wilson is today the great hope Of the
democratic world. 5s5#
But those who are already pledged
to pacif1sm, peace by negotiation, in
ter-belligerent socialist meetings or
other means of securing a peace with
out fighting argue in excuse that,
though America may be solidly back
ing war efforts, it is not solid in sup
port of Wilson's peace terms.
Suspicion of an American plutoc-
racy and possible alliances with i'm
perialistic elements elsewhere is now
the main stock In trade Of socialist
pacifsts, who are still sufficiently
strong to be dangerous allies to q
skillfpl German drive. Facts have al
last overcome a German. propaganda
sufficiently to convince even this class
that America 9 to fight with all
her strength"