Credits are to be refused to any government that refuses this program or answers evasively or does not declare itself ready to enter upon peace conversations on the basis of this program. Such government must be fought in the sharpest manner. To undertake and further such common peace action must be the first object of the planned International Peace Conference. A proletariat organization that will not join in this action would thereby forfeit the right henceforth to be regarded as an organization of international socialism. [From the New York Tribune, Aug. 12, 1917.] STATEMENT OF THE AUSTRO-GERMAN SOCIALIST DELEGATES [To the Dutch-Scandinavian Socialist Committee Statement.] In the opinion of the Austrian delegation imperialism is the universal cause of war, but national questions (questions of nationality) have frequently served as pretexts. Almost everywhere in central, western and south-eastern Europe the settlement of nations 1 is so intermingled that a delimitation of territories would be impossible and constitute a renewed occasion of wars. Even where the separation of nations was possible it would mean such small states (Kleinstaaterei) that the political and economic rise of these nations would be endangered. To break up already existing large political and economic units would profit only the bourgeoisie of the larger states who could easily play off the many small states against one another and dominate them. Therefore the Delegation accepts national autonomy on the basis of the Basle manifesto and is of the opinion that the attainment of this freedom must be the work of these nations themselves. In especial the Delegates declare (1) that they favor peace without annexations, (2) that they regard all bourgeois governments and controlling bourgeoisies as alike responsible for the war; and for this reason too they are for a speedy peace without indemnity. From this it follows that an answer to the question of responsibility for 1 The word nations is used throughout, though what are commonly called nationalities are generally meant. the war must be waived. As regards particular national questions the delegates have declared themselves against the annexation of Belgium, and for the political independence of the Serbian people as well as for a free access for Serbia to the sea by means of union with Montenegro. The Balkan states can arrange their political relations with one another by mutual agreement and themselves realize the old demand "The Balkans for the Balkan peoples" by a federation (Bündniss). (3) The South-Slav nations and the provinces of Austria-Hungary including Bosnia should remain within the framework of the monarchy. But the Delegates bind themselves always to further the efforts of these peoples towards autonomy. (4) The independence of Finland and Russian Poland should be assured, the Poles of Galicia and Prussia should receive their full autonomy within the framework of the two states, likewise full national autonomy is demanded for the Ruthenians of Austria. The Delegates look to the future and to voluntary agreements between restored Poland (Kongress-Polen, Poland of the Congress of Vienna) and the Central Powers for a lasting settlement of the Polish question. (5) In the face of certain claims that this war has to do with the freeing of the small nations of Austria the Delegation maintains that the Austrian state will retain the small nations. The Delegates regard as an essential part of the peace treaty international economic questions. They demand the reëstablishment of freedom of intercourse by land and by sea, the demolition of the system of high protective tariffs, the open door in all colonies with a common international administration of all sea routes and interoceanic canals and the creation of new world railroad routes shared and administered by all powers. The Delegates protest againt economic war as erected into a system by the Paris Conference of 1916 and are of the opinion that tariff unions are a step forward only when they aim at an extension of free trade. (Erweiterung des freien Verkehrs.) The peace proposal should contain general agreements in the direction of the demands of the international trade-union Congresses. (6) The war has destroyed all guarantees of hitherto existing laws of maritime warfare. The development of law which was begun in the 1856 Peace of Paris must be carried further. Here belong prohibition of privateering, and of arming of merchant vessels, abolition of the law of capture at sea, limitation of the scope of contraband, (from which must be excluded at least the raw materials for food and clothing), the return of the right of blockade to its old limits, prohibition of the declaration that a part of the open sea is a war zone, limitation of permissible means of warfare by sea and in the air. The delegates further advocated the continuation of the work for peace of the two Hague Conferences; limitation, by agreement, of armament by land and sea, until standing armies are completely disarmed, the organization of a popular militia for defense only; as far as munitions are necessary the whole munitions industry should be nationalized. Austrian Social Democracy is unconditionally for the calling of a Socialist congress and considers it the duty of all sections of international trade-unions to take part in it. The Delegates expect that all affiliated sections should enter into connection, and regard it as necessary that the national sections (of the Socialist party) should be represented by their minority as well as by their majority group. The Bohemian, Polish and |