ANTI-WAR SPEECH IN AUCKLAND

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21355, 24 December 1934, Page 21

ANTI-WAR SPEECH IN AUCKLAND

♦ | REFERENCE IN ENGLISH j PERIODICAL ! CRITICISM OF SIR JAMES BAILLIE '.pm.'!.! t'lr. yv.n cPKREsrosDr.vT ) LONDON, November 15. An echo of the speech made by Mr 11. D. Dickinson, at Auckland, on his sympathy for the Russian form of government, appears in th? journal, the "Adelphi." "Leeds has not yet been strikingly disturbed by an attack on freedom made by the Vice-Chancellor of the University. Sir James Baillie," says this journal. "But there is a strong current of feeling in the ranks of the Leeds University Socialist Society and there are indications that the feeling will extend to the city party." After an explanation of the circumstances in which Mr Dickinson made the speech the write: . -:eds. "The importance of the event is that it affords the city Labour party —which controls 11:- c.. r.cil—a*> opportunity to strike against the movement, begun in London with l'affaire Laski, which seeks to make dumb sheep of professors and lecturers. Sir James Baillie should be asked a question. It is this: 'Were you speaking officially as head of the University?" "The City Council should state that it has no wish to interfere with the Vice-Cl.ancellor's private state ments, but. if it " r ers that Sir James was speaking officially, it has an excellent oppc- '• --' l y of speaking as follows; 'We, the Socialist Coun cil of Leeds, hereby state that we approve of Mr Dickinson's views on the last war and the lext. What is more, we b^ - that lecturers have every right to state socialist views. We believe that a university which restricts freedom of expression in a capitalistic society is not worth supporting and her- / withdraw our grant to the university.' It would at least hearten those who wonder in what way a Socialist Council differs from a progrc-:'-. c Cc:::c:vative Council!"