The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-08-13
American Social Democratic League
Mission Sent To Europe To Upset
German Peace Offensive
(By Associated Press.)

(By ASSOCIATED PresS.)
London, Aug. 13.-Members Of the
Mission sent to England and France
by the Social Democratic League Of
America declare that the way to de-
feat the expected German peace drive
is to convince the Socialist and Labor
leaders of the Entente nations that
America stands solidly behind Pres
ident Wilson and backs UP his peace
terms to the limit.
Their purpose in coming to Europe
to confer with Socialist and Labor
leaders of England and France is to
convince them that American Social
lists and working men are a unit in
support of President Wilson's peace
terms,
The mission is composed of John
Spargo, A. NJ. Simons, Louis Kopelin
and Alexander Howat, the latter OF
the Kansas Mine Works.
"The next vital STEP" they said, in
the statement given to the Associated
Press before leaving for France, lis
to convince the world of labor that
the whole people of the United States
is devoting all its fighting strength to
nothing more or less than to secure
the peace laid down by President Will
son.
"Once this fact is accepted by the
Socialists of the Allied nations, there
will be an end of pacifism there and
a spread of peace sentiment in Aus
tria and Germany. Already it is
claimed that the Socialists of Austria
and Germany have agreed to accept
substantially these terms. 1t this is
true the need Of an acknowledgement
Socialist 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 Socialist
bodies of the Entente nations to in.
jure morale to the extent that Ger
many may obtain peace while her mil
itary autocracy remains a danger to
democratic nations depends largely
upon the possibility of convincing
such bodies that America stands SOL
idly behind President Wilson's peace
terms.
THE overwhelming mass of British
laborers and Socialists wish TO win
the war. They are misrepresented by
a small group controlling their po-
litical organization. Even this group
protests its desire for victory, but
some believe victory impossible and
others charge that If obtained it will
be used by imperialists to pave the
way to future wars.
Yet all, pacifist 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.
"But those who are already pledged
to pacifism, 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, 1t is not solid in sup
port Of Wilson's peace terms.
Suspicion Of an American pluto
cracy and possible alliances with i'm
perialistic elements elsewhere Is now
the main stock in trade of Socialist
pacifists, who are still sufficiently
strong to be dangerous allies to q
skillful German drive. Facts have al
last overcome a German propaganda
sufficiently to convince even this class
that America means to fight with all
her strength"