BRITISH LABOUR PARTY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25483, 1 May 1948, Page 7

BRITISH LABOUR PARTY

MORE DISCIPLINARY -ACTIONS

OPPOSITION TO CONGRESS OF EUROPE (Special Correspondent N.Z.PA.)

(Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 30. In addition to expelling Mr J. PlattsMills, M.P., and “threatening” 21 other members of the House of Commons, the national executive of the Labour Party has “unanimously reaffirmed its publicly stated view that it would be undesirable for members of the Labour Party to attend” the Congress of Europe at The Hague. It is understood that most of the 40 Labour members who accepted invitations still intend to go. The Labour Party’s executive also decided to invite Mr Alfred Edwards, member of the House of Commons for Middlesbrough East, to appear before a sub-committee to discuss his political actions. He has been criticised for his attacks on the project to nationalise the iron and steel industry. The Labour Party in his constituency recently asked him to resign, but he refused. He says he will be “delighted” to meet the sub-committee. He is opposed to any attempt to nationalise the steel industry on the lines of the collieries.

Twenty-one members of Parliament concerned in the sending of a telegram of good wishes to the Italian Leftist leader, Mr P. Nenni, to-night published a letter which they had previously submitted to the national executive of the Labour Party. This letter was mentioned, but not called for when the Labour Party dismissed Mr PlattsMills.

In the letter just published, Mr Platts-Mills and 20 of the 21 other members, assured -the national executive that they had not signed the telegram in opposition to the principles or policy of the party.