New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-02
Algernon Lee Declares He
Is Assured u. S. Will Is
sue Passports for Trip
Plan to Sail in a Month
Germans Expected to Join
Men of Allied Countries
at Lausanne Conference

SEM delegateS, with passports issued
by Washington, to an international So
cialist and labor congress in Lausanne,
Switzerland, to meet and treat with
Socialist and labor representatives
from Russia and the Teutonic coun-
tries, as we'll as from Allied and neu-
trail nations The congress has been
called by the International Socialist
Bureau, which fathered the abortve
Stockholm conference.
The American delegates are ex-
pected to stand suqarely against inter-
vcntion in Russia or the dictation of
any particular form of government to
the people of Germany or Autsria
The national executive committee
of the Socialist party already has an
nounced the choice by referendum of
Algeron Lee, director of the Rand
School and a member of the Board of
Aldermen, and James H. Mauer, for
many years president of the Pennsyl-
vania State Federation of Labor and
Socialist member of the Pennsylvania
Legislature, as delegates.
Third to Be Chosen
According to Mr.. Lee the third mem
Der of the delegation will be either
John NJ. Works, of Iowa, a member
of the national executive committee,
or James Oneal an editor of 1.-The New
York Call"
Mr.. Lee has received no notice from
Washington that his passport will be
issued, but he is making preparations
for leaving. The party executive has
heard through representative in
Paris that "a high American official"
in that city "has announced that pass
ports will be granted"
This will be the first general meet
ing of Socialist representatives since
1910. The war prevented a gathering
in the summer of 1914, and the only
meeting at which an American Socialist
was present during the war was that
of representatives from neutral coun-
tries held at The Hague in August,
1916. Mr.. Lee was the only American
present
At the Lausanne congress the Ameri-
can delegates expect to meet for the
first time representatives. of the groups
which sent delegates to the Interna-
tlonal Socialist and Labor Conference
IN London, and which tried to confer
with representatives of the Socialist
and labor parties of the enemy coun-
tries. American Socialists of the anti
war faction were refused passports to
attend the London conference.
Those Who Will be There
According to Mr. Lee the Lausanne
congress will include representatives of
the vast bulk of European labor-the
British Labor party, the French Social
list party and the French Confederation
of Labor, the Italian Socialist party
and the Italian Federation of Labor.
Mr.. Lee believes the delegation from
the American Federation of Labor,
headed by Samuel Gompers, which sails
January s, will find only meagre
group of laboritcs in Paris, unless the
Lausanne congress decides to meet in
the French capital. Mr.. Lee claims that
except bodies such as the British Fed
Grafton of Labor, numbering about 300,-
goo, labor and Socialist parties in Eu
rope have become practically synony-
nous.
"The congress-" said Mr.. Lee yester-
day." will be of vital Importance to the
Socialist movement, for it comes at q
time full of possibilities and Difficult
ties. Of course, the first place in all
Socialit thought and discussion must
be taken by Russia, and what is going
on there
~ think the congress will concern
itself mostly with three major ques-
tions.
Would Leave Russia Alone
First, we will oppose intervention
in Russia, even though there exist diff
ferences of opinion among Socialists
as to the Brightness of the Bolsheviki
policies. The party is unanimous in
desiring that the Russian people should
be allowed to solve their problems of
government and industry in their own
way. This applies also to Germany
and AUSTRIA Hungary.
Second, we shall try to bring about,
SO far as possible, harmony of action
among the various Socialist factions in
those countries.
"Third-We shall consider means for
a closer unity among the Socialist and
labor forces of all countries with a
view to guarding against a repetition
OF what happened in 1914
AS to the league of nations, it all
depends on who makes the league. A
league of nations may mean an ALI
ance OF governments or it may mean a
federation of peoples. Taken in the
latter sense, it is the thing that Social
ism necessarily aims at and has always
aimed at. | strongly suspect that such
federation is now impossible.
Thinks People Must Dominate
Il don't believe world peace can be
cnfo reed from above. The onlv hone
Tor permanent peace is in such eco-
nomlc and political changes. alono
HoclaIst lines, as will diminish and
eventually destroy the economic cansns
OF war, and in such a mutual undo
Standing among the masses of the moo.
PIE IN all countries as will enable them
nations ZIG great
I'VE are more in danger of crea+irn
a twentieth century holy alliance ca
Aiexander probably had the best Of
frankly the question of Bolsbev;sr,
VIII assume paramount imnortance % Of 'l
the congress. l am not and nevnr ,,,o o -
a Bolshevik, and vet since No. No. h Mas
1917 l have been wholly with ''t +hosn
90 ,n'1iss nave not happened in Russia
a. a. ! expected them to happen. Rut
they have happened, and that is the
10 Lo put it briefly and, perhaps
Iainer crudely, the Mensheviki did not
lnihk proletarian revolution in Rus
s'a could take place until Russia had
pasSea through a period of political
ana economic development similar. ~
tnat OF Western Europe in the nine.
while this evolution would ~
enpurse' De more rapid, yet thew believed
Vhi't rev years would have to intor.
Venc between the downfall Of The CO.
ana the triumph of Socialism Tho Boi.
shevlkl believed that at favornhio
lnonienI IL would be possible for thew