Page:Emile Vandervelde - Three Aspects of the Russian Revolution - tr. Jean Elmslie Henderson Findlay (1918).djvu/237

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The Political Situation

Needless to say, even the neutral Italians or the Russian Extremists would hesitate to accept such a programme, and that if a general meeting took place the German Majority Socialists would not dare to put it forward.

But who does not realize that even to discuss with the latter, so long as they are allied with their Imperial Chancellor, would weaken the mainspring of the war and give to the nations, longing for peace, deceptive hopes, while embarking the Socialist International in an undertaking that might land it in confusion?

It is true that the partisans, or at least certain partisans, of the Conference said to us, "There is no question of coming to an understanding with the German Majority Socialists; we shall, on the contrary, go to Stockholm to ask the question of war responsibilities, to denounce the weakness, the compromise, the treachery even, of the Socialist Democratic Majority, to force them to choose between their Kaiser and Socialism, to break with their present policy or resign from the International. They must join with us, with all Socialists, against Imperi-

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