On Wednesday the Trades Union Congress adopted a resolution asking
the enemy Socialists to define their war aims, and urging the Government " to initiate peace negotiations immediately the enemy, either voluntarily or by compulsion, evacuates France and Belgium." Mr. Havelock Wilson, with his usual courage, denounced the resolution as a pitiful compromise which, like the Labour Conference's war aims, failed to express the real views of British workmen. We cannot reconcile other speeches in favour of the resolution by patriotic Labour leaders with their repeated assertions that we must never desert Russia. However, the resolution was deliberately made ambiguous so that it might prevent a split in the Labour ranks. Those who call for peace by negotiation may claim a success. But the patriotic majority may retort that, if and when the enemy is driven out of France and Belgium, his army will be a disorganised rabble, and we can impose a just peace.
Previous page
