South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-29
SAYS EUROPEAN
LABOR OPPOSES
TERMS Of PACT
Parties in Most Countries Do
Not Approve of Peace
Treaty, Says Editor.
BY WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE.

PARIS, May q (By Cable to New
York)-The peace treaty will be op-
posed by European labor whether
the treaty is signed or rejected. A
meeting Of the International. which
meets annually in Berne. has been
called in special session to consider
the treaty. The call was issued by
the secretary OF the International at
Brussels at the suggestion Of German
labor
The fact. however, that British Ia
Dor has officially issued d manifesto
against the treaty and thai the
French and Belgian press and labor
leaders denOunce the terms Of the
treaty indicates plainly what the In
ternatiOnal will do when il "consid-
ers the treaty. Plans are moving
in England. France. Belgium and
Italy to take the treaty into politics
and to overthrow the existing gov
ernments in an appeal 10 the people.
Hold Meetings on Treaty.
There IS small hope for this in
England. but labor seems hopeful.
In England the campaign is well un-
der headway Four hundred strike
meetings are held every week by the
labor people whose speakers are
coached and drilled i'm points
against the treaty, and this week "a
meeting of 10000 people in Albert
hall presided over by lord and ad-
dressed by "A bishop and other
members of the nobility. indicates
that in England the movement
against the treaty is stirring in other
than labor circles.
a section Of the liberal party and
the pacifst branch of the tories are
Joining in demanding the repeal Of
tbe treaty Their reasons for op-
posing the treaty are the annexations
of the Saar valley. the TyrOl. Shan
tung and the neighborhood of Dan
, Sig and also the long period of vas
salage required OF Germany during
which Germany will be held in prac-
teal industrial slavery.
Oppose NassalagC.
The liberals and labor oppose the
anuexations as "A violation of the
armistice. and oppose the vassalage
OF Germany for an indefinite period
because it is liable TO create a mill
tary power TO enforce the vassalage.
But all the British speakers,
whether coached by labor or speak
ing from the liberal middle class
platforms. declare the league Of ma
tions is the one hope - sight If the
treaty Is not signed its opponents
will raise a storm i'm the pending
crisis. demanding "A modified treaty.
II the treaty is signed under protest.
its opponents then expect to inject
the treaty into politics. demanding
that the league of nations modify
the treaty. as they may under the
powers granted to the league.
Join Forces i'm France.
In France the socialists have
about one-third of the vote and only
h ga combination can they hope to
gain power, but curiously. the royal
lists. bankers and ultra conservatives
nre angry because the treaty is too
mild in the matter of immediate
cash reparatiOn. and are joining
forces against the treaty with any
group capable of overturnins the
government but with small hope OF
success.
a Belgium the socialists have a
working majority much OF the time
and if the pope objects seriously to
the treaty the clericals might help
set * aside.
In Italy. while the socialists are
c!amoring against the treaty and
certain imperialists like the French
conservatives are oljecting. public
opinion is unorganized and there is
no danger from Italy.
English Movement Strong.
Sut the English movement i,
slroEg and determined. The treaty
Is admira bly, suited 20 use 10y the OPP
ponents of the British government
who compose. nrst. the Fabian So
c.alists: second. the aristocratic pac-
fists. who are strong I'm leadership,
third. the anti-cOnsCription liberals
who oppose the large army necessary
to coerce Germany for "a long period
Of wears. and fourth. the radical, di-
rect-action labor leaders at the eX-
IRENE left who welcome the anti
treaty agitation as a source OF dis
content
Strange as NJ may seem. one hears
men declare that Lloyd George him
SELF may take the leadership OF thi,
eroup. IL is becoming more evident
daily that the coalition with the
tories is weakening arpi the trend OF
European events is all strongly TO.
wards socialism. Lloyd George. whC
IS never long out or power. may de.
eide 10 lead the new group now
forming.
The only sure thing is that th'
treaty. with its long period OF annua
repsration while Germany Is iI
bondage. viii be the vital issue il
European politics until IL is finally
settled. which explains why British
and American opinion in Paris re
cards the treaty as binding upoI
Germany only in the PickwickiaI
sense II Is uncomfortable that +,
treaty which becomes a running sore
i'm politics should long be serioush
reearded. II is certain TO be modi
Ted or abandoned.
Copyright 1912