OCR Text |
Show 'SOCIALISTS ARE SEEKING PEACE The Hague, April 21, via London. April 21, in 20 p m. The Socialists nC Germany are making an earnest effort to seek for a basis on which the cessation of the war can be brought about. Dr. BreitscheidU a prominent member of the German Socialist So-cialist party, Is now In Holland ron suiting the Dutch Socialist leaders with a view to getting Into communication communi-cation with the. British and through them with the French Socialists, in an endeavor to bring pressure to bear on the various governments. It Is declared that the German Socialists So-cialists are virtually unanimous In favor of peace and against any annexation an-nexation of territory It Is said that, illhough the Socialist newspapers in : Germany are not permitted under ; penalty of suspension, to publish criticism crit-icism of the government or express , st eptlclsm regarding the results of the I war, at a meeting where only members mem-bers of the party were admitted and from which the police were absent, free discussions in favor of peace took place The general view of the Socialists It is said is that Alsace and Lorraine should helong to neither Franc nor Germany, but should be autonomous. The argument is that If France recaptures re-captures the provinces a rankling for vengeance would be held by a large part of the population, which, it Is asserted, does not desire to be gov erned h the French and that, ther-ore ther-ore the situation would be as bad as ever. It Is reported that the great Efiast Prussian landowners are tr ine to treat for peace with Russia, owing to fears that their property will suffer but the Socialists are said to have 'expressed the opinion that the pros-pe pros-pe t - of b durable peace are more likeh through an arrangement of terms b Germany with France and England and by evacuating Belgium With reference to the Dardanelles. ;it is deciared that the German So Iciallsts believe that it will not be ft isible to internationalize or neutralise neutral-ise the straits until a United States of Europe has been formed They assert that the futility of neu- I 'rality has already been shown The Socialists of Germany assert that It will be impossible to starve Germany, hut express the belief tha war cannot continue much longer in consequence of the disastrous effects on the economic conditions of all the countries engaged. -oo |