From The Social Interpretation of History by Maurice William, 1921

. . . Emile Vandervelde, the Belgian Socialist . . . expresses himself as follows:

Statism is the organization of social labor by the State, by the Government. Socialism is the organization of social labor by the workers grouped in public associations. . . . [Socialism versus the State,Italics M. W.]

. . . Vandervelde shrinks from the practical application of his theories. More than that, he actually repudiates the principles he laid down in his book and instead accepts the principles of State Socialism . . . Vandervelde is a member of the Committee on International Labor Legislation of the Peace Conference. This committee laid before the Peace Conference a series of recommendations which were accepted and adopted.

The New York Times published the following¹ ;

Before the report was adopted, Emile Vandervelde, the Belgian labor delegate, made what was in effect a minority report. he advocated the admission to the International Labor Conference of delegates from countries with which a state of war still existed, saying that otherwise he felt there might be held another conference of which the proletariat from all countries would be represented and which would wield more power than the conference to be held in Washington next October. [My italics. {M.W.}]

    ¹ April 13, 1919.

Vandervelde concluded by saying that questions relative to the adoption of an eight-hour day, equality of salaries for men and women workers and legislation dealing with night work, must be settled. There are two ways to arrive at these results, he said. The [not-really] Russian way and the British method. He preferred the latter. No wonder Lloyd George in his address to the House of Commons [April 16, 1919] in defense of his course at the Peace Conference, boasted proudly of Vandervelde's stand as follows: "A great labor orator at the labor Conference on Friday said : 'There are two methods of dealing with the situation—the [not-really] Russian method and the English method,' and I felt a thrill of pride for my country." Such is Socialist consistency in theory and practice !

Lenine and Trotsky are at least consistent. They are trying to put their principles [i.e., 'loot'] into practice. They are calling a meeting of their own International, at which the proletariat of all countries will be represented and which Vandervelde would prefer to prevent.

According to Lloyd George, Lenine and Trotsky certainly cannot complain of unfavorable conditions for their experiment. They are trying it out in a country that is very easy to invade, but difficult to conquer.

The world is in a turmoil and heartily sick of war. No capitalist nation would dare send a large army into Russia with the intention of overthrowing Bolshevism. The masses are in no mood for such enterprises. Whether they agree with Lenin or not—and most of them probably do not—there is yet a feeling that Bolshevism seeks to serve the interests of the masses. The capitalist class of the world could not capitalize the patriotism of the masses for the purpose of invading. Russia. Their hands are full taking care of disturbances within their own countries. Then, too, there is the world�s financial condition to be considered. It hardly warrants further expenditures for war purposes. Mr. George, in the speech quoted above, made reference to this situation as follows:

I share the horror for Bolshevist teaching, but I would rather leave Russia Bolshevist until she sees her way out of it than to see Britain bankrupt. That is the surest road to Bolshevism in Britain. [My italics.]

For this situation Lenine and Trotsky should be mighty thankful. If conditions could be made to order, they could not be improved upon. Yet, despite these advantageous conditions, can they succeed without yielding from their present uncompromising Marxian position? The answer must decidedly in the negative.

New York : Sotery, 1921, pp. 94 - 97.

Vandervelde, Emile, 1866-1938. Title(s) Socialism versus the state, by �mile Vandervelde...tr. by Charles H. Kerr. Publisher Chicago, C. H. Kerr & company co-operative [c1919] Paging 229 p. 20 cm.

Vandervelde, Emile, 1866-1938. Title(s) Three aspects of the Russian revolution, by Emile Vandervelde, tr. by Jean E. H. Findlay. Publisher London, G. Allen & Unwin, ltd. [1918] Paging 280 p. front. (port.) 19cm. Notes "Appendix. The memorandum of the Belgian Socialists submitted to the Dutch-Scandinavian commission" p. 243-[281]

Vandervelde, Emile, 1866-1938. Title(s) Collectivism and industrial evolution, / by Emile Vandervelde. Tr. by Charles H. Kerr. Publisher Chicago, C. H. Kerr & company, 1901. Paging 199 p. incl. front. (port.) 18 cm.