"Before the war there were many who were more or less ignorant of the international labor movement but who nevertheless turned to it for salvation when the threat of war arose. They hoped that the workers would never permit a war"

In this quote, Hjalmar Branting is talking about the attitude of some individuals before the outbreak of war. He keeps in mind that there were many individuals who were not well-informed about the global labor motion, but when the risk of war emerged, they turned to it for hope and defense. These people believed that the working class had the power to avoid war from happening. They saw the labor movement as a force for peace and hoped that the workers would use their influence to prevent any disputes from arising. This quote highlights the belief in the power of the working class and their possible to produce positive modification in the face of war.