The German Delegates: "Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras ...."
According to the statements of an Austrian officer, a deserter, the German chancellor has sent a number of German Socialists to Stockholm to interview the representatives of Russian Socialists and negotiate for a separate peace.
Another Austrian deserter alleges that peace is being spoken of less frequently than formerly in the Austrian Army, and that everybody hopes the internal disorders in Russia will help in bringing about her destruction.
Russian Official,
Petrograd, April 14, 1917.
Austria: "Why won't you trust me, Little Red Riding Hood?"
As it was herewith clearly demonstrated to the entire world, and especially to the people of Russia, that Russia was no longer forced to fight for her defences and for the freedom of her people, it should, in view of the conformity of the aims of the governments of the allies and of the Russian Provisional Government, not be difficult to find a way toward an understanding. This the less as the emperor (Charles) in agreement with the allied monarchs cherishes the hope of living in future in peace and friendship with a Russian people which, as regards its internal and external conditions of life, will be secured and content.
Austrian Government to Russia,
April 15, 1917.
KULTUR V. CIVILISATION
On the evening of April 17 the S.S. Donegal and Lanfranc, while transporting wounded to British ports, were torpedoed without warning.
The Lanfranc, in addition to 234 wounded British officers and men, carried 167 wounded German prisoners, a medical personnel of 52, and a crew of 123.
British Admiralty Official,
April 17, 1917.
American Soldier: "Remember we have plenty of lamp-posts for traitors."
It's about time for the hamstringers that are lurking in the tall grass and the sabotagists who are trying to throw monkey-wrenches into the war machinery to shut off and up or look for unpleasant consequences.
These hidden-hangers do not come out in the open, even to the extent of the semi-treasonable sentiments of the Pro-German Socialists at St. Louis. If they did, it wouldn't be necessary to pay any attention to them. They work in a more insidious way. Under the guise of American citizenship they rise up every now and then, individuals or organizations of doubtful origin and purpose, to demand why the United States is in the war and what its intentions are....
Americans are in no mood to tolerate national sabotage of this sort any more than plain and open aid and comfort to the enemy. Every man of common sense knows why we are in the war and what we want to do. We are in it because we were forced into it by outrageous aggressions and because we are determined to make the world safe for American democracy.
Chicago Herald, May, 1917.,
THE SOCIALIST BAIT FOR RUSSIA
At the last sitting of the executive committee of the Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates, M. Borgbjerg, on behalf of the Labour parties of Scandinavia—Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian—conveyed an official invitation to all Socialist parties in Russia to the proposed international conference at Stockholm.
Reuter, Petrograd, May 8, 1917.
