New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-02

| three main and unimpeachable sources
which, while they cannot be quoted
doubt:
First Talk of Conference
| FirSt-Arthur Henderson and the
, other Labor party leaders told me in
London that the inter-Allied labor
congress held in London last Septem-
Der had appointed Mr.. Henderson, Mr..
Gompers, Mr.. Vandervelde and Mr..
Thomas, as representing England,
America, Belgium and France, 60 sum
mon the international labor Socialist
congress concident with the peace
congress.
This I could not verify at that time,
but records of all previous congresses
and conferences were published by the
British Labor party and circulated
widely, while this most important Of
all conferences was given no such pub
i'clty. | may now quote from the min
utes OF that conference to show just
what kind OF committee was appointed
and its task From the records take {:
Mr.. Henderson announced that the
commission had unanimously recon-
mended that the conference should ap-
polnt an executive committee composed
OF two delegates from each country rep
resented. This committee should super
wise the execution of the resolutions of
this inter-Allied conference and organ
lzaticn of the subsequent inter-Allied
conferences. Mr. Gompers moved that
as the United States was more than
9'o00 miles away from England, France
and Italy the group selecting the COM
mlttee should have the power to name
substitutes if the original appointees
were unable to attend"
American Delegates Chosen
This resolution was adopted. The
American delegation selected Samuel
Gompers and John P Frey as the
American members Of this executive
committee.
Thus it is shown that there never
was any committee of four, and that an
intern atlonal congress with Germans,
Austrlans and Bulgarians attending
never was contemplated. This fact
alone makes the Berne Congress irreg-
ular and illegal.
The executive committee appointed
to summon a congress inter-Allied in
character has never met, and even the
four men named by Mr. Henderson as
constituting committee~--a committee
that has no legal existence-have never
agreed to the plan now being followed
An additional fact must be cited re-
garding the inter-Allied labor and So
cialist conference held in February
year ago In London, which no Amer
lean attended because there was not
time to cross the ocean. At that time
Messrs. Henderson, Vandervelde and
Thomas were appointed as committee
10 summon another congress. While
that committee passed out of existence
when the September congress met, it
is possible that Mr. Henderson juggled
matters so as to revive it, adding the
name of Gompers without his consent
If this is the case the legality Of those
proceedings is equally absent.
Used Names Illegally
Second, at least some of the organi-
cations called to the Berne congress
have received summonses signed by
Messrs. Henderson, Gompers, Wander
velde and Thomas. 1t is my Informal
ton that neither Mr.. Gompers, NJ. Van
dervelde nor M. Thomas knew of this
use of their names we consented to it,
If this is correct, those organizations
receiving such summonses yearly were
deceived as to the original backing of
the congress and were led to believe
that Mr.. Gompers, NJ. Vandervelde and
NJ. Thomas were in agreement with the
whole scheme
1t may be stated as a positive fact
that Mr.. Gompers has not consented to
having his name signed to any call in
connected with the Berne congress,
and it is equally certain that there
was no consent given by M. Thomas.
In the case of M. Vandervelde, the
facts are the following: He drafted the
call for the inter-Allied congress and
forwarded it to Mr.. Henderson. The
latter amended it to include enemy and
neutral organizations. NJ. Vandervelde
says he had no knowledge Of the
change and had not consented to it.
He has been directed by his party not
to attend the Berne congress.
The call for the Berne congress went
out from London. That is where Mr..
Henderson has his Office, and his sig
natures are genuine.
MisIed About Character
Third, it is evident from a COMPARE
son OF facts that certain government
officials have been misinformed as to
the character of the conference 1t is
entirely possible that what many have
interpreted as tacit approval Of the
congress in certain government circles
is founded on misinformation. 1t is
known that NJ. Longuet has access to
certain government ears that we're
closed to the patriotic NJ. Thomas.
These ears are not necessarily French.
1t is known that NJ. Jouhaux, secretary
Of the French Confederation of Labor,
who is going to Berne, has wormed his
way close to Premier Clemenceau, while
NJ. Thomas is more out of favor there
than ever.
Jean Longuet, Marcel Cachin and
others, including at least one we'll
known American, declare that this con-
ference must be held because "Presi-
dent Wilson wants it," The name Of
the President has been used assidu-
ously in inducing the attendance of
delegations that might otherwise re-
fuse to be involved. AS late as yes
terday pressure was brought to bear
on the Belgians to attend because the
President wants it,"
President Opposes Plan
There IL M sinc1c fart 70 obouu N q ',