ABSTRACT
Attempts to re-establish international contacts and co-operation among socialists were made early in the war by a number of parties and individuals. Socialists in neutral countries in particular felt that they had the duty and opportunity to help restore such relations and so work for an early end to the war. The socialists of Italy and Switzerland made further efforts to revive the International. One of the representatives of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland was Robert Grimm, who was to play a crucial part in launching of the 'Zimmerwald Movement'. An international conference of socialist women was held in Berne from 26 to 28 March 1915; it was convened by Clara Zetkin, secretary of the International Council of Socialist Women's Organizations, after the exchange of views among groups in Holland, Great Britain, Russia and France. Lenin was restating the case for a split in world socialist movement and for the formation of new revolutionary parties and a new International.
