Wilson Confident Of Labour Upsurge

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30233, 11 September 1963, Page 17

Wilson Confident Of Labour Upsurge

(N.Z.P.A .-Reuter—Copyright) AMSTERDAM, September 9. The British Labour Party leader, Mr Harold Wilson, said today that the next few months “will see us in Britain quietly but firmly move forward 25 years into the mideighties.”

Mr Wilson told the opening session of the congress of the Socialist International in Amsterdam they could see a “peaceful revolution at work in Europe.” "The day of the tired men is over," he said. ‘’The new genenation, vigorous and dynamic, determined, impatient yet responsible, is coming into its own.”

Labour Parties were “again poised for electoral victory" in Australia and New Zealand, he said. Mr Wilson said he believed Socialist parties “hold the key to the immediate future” of the world. In Scandinavia there were now Labour Governments—apart from the “temporary aoerration” in Norway, Mr Wilson said discussing the future of socialism. There was a strong foothold in Austria, Belgium and Switzerland, possibilities in the Netherlands, a realignment of forces in Italy, a powerful gathering of force in Germany and the position of the Labour Party in Britain. This was a historic develop-

ment and was well understood outside Europe, not least in Washington.

In Africa and Asia new national movements w*ere coining into their own, ■'Socialist in name and Socialist in inspiration.” In other parts of the world, i Australia and New Zealand, "the Labour Parties are again poised tor electoral victory.”

I In Wellington, the Leader o: the Opposition (Mr Nordmeyer) said yesterday that i- Mr Wilson had indicated. H e prospects of a Labour

victory in New Zealand were bright "I am confident that a Labour government in Britain and a Labour government in New Zeeland would be able to do much to .-trengthen the economy of both our countries," said Mr N rdmeyer.] Racialism Condemned Mr Wilson was applauded ■when he said the “naked racialism” of the South African Prime Minister (Dr. Verwoerd) was threatening the integrity of neighbouring territories. Racialism in South Africa was a challenge to the whole of the free world, he said. ' This congress must express its utter condemnation

lof apartheid and should also call for a complete arms ban on South Africa. This is the least we can do. “The United States Government has taken a firm stand on this and it is time for European nations to do the same,” Mr Wilson said. If this were not done “we are linking ourselves with the regime in South Africa.” An encouraging sign was “the clear determination of the members of the United Nations to mobilise the whole force of world opinion against apartheid and repression in the darkest parts of Africa.”