LABOUR LEADER

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 87, 9 October 1935, Page 11

LABOUR LEADER

Ml*. LANSBTJRY RESIGNS

ATLEE TO ACT TEMPORARILY

(Received October 9, 9.30 a.m.)

LONDON, October 8.

Mr. George . Lansbury tendered his resignation from the leadership at a special meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party which carried a resolution by 38 votes to 7 asking him to reconsider his decision. Mr. Lansbury declined, whereupon the meeting accepted it with regret and passed a resolution of high appreciation of his services to the party and the country during this Parliament.

It was decided that Major Attlee should act as temporary leader for the remainder of the Parliamentary session. ■ ■ '.■

Sir Stafford Cripps has been asked to resign from the executive of the party. . .

Mr. Lansbury, who has been leader of the Labour Party since 1931, indicated his intention to resign some weeks ago, finding himself opposed to the use of armed forces either by the League of Nations or individual nations. "It is difficult to stand up publicly and repudiate a fundamental policy," he said at the Labour Party Conference at which the decision was taken to support sanctions by the League. "I ask the conference to believe that I have never been more convinced that lam right. The Labour movement is making a terrible mistake. I believe force will never bring peace and good will to the world."

Sir Stafford Cripps also disagreed with the attitude of the party in giving whole-hearted support to the Government's policy based on the Covenant of the League of Nations.