BRITISH LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 85, 7 October 1936, Page 11

BRITISH LABOUR

REPLY TO FASCISM

POLICY REAFFIRMED

United Press Association-—fly Electric Telegraph—Copyrijlit. LONDON, October 15. "I am going to speak bluntly. Britain in 193 L was secure in a military, naval, and air sense. Today that security is gone. If a Labour Government were in power tomorrow it would be compelled to proceed to increase British armaments." . Thus spoke Dr. Hugh Dalton, M.P., moving the armaments resolution at ■the Labour Party Conference at Edinburgh. The motion was as follows: — "That in view of the threatening attitude of dictatorships which are increasing their armaments at an unprecedented rate, flouting international law, and refusing to co-operate in the work of the organisation of peace, this conference declares that the armed strength of the countries loyal to the League of Nations must be conditioned by the armed strength of potential aggression. The conference therefore reaffirms the policy of the Labour Party to maintain such defence forces as are consistent with the country's responsibilities- as a member of the League, the preservation of the people's rights and liberties, the continuance of democratic institutions, and the observance of international law. Realising the relationship between the policy of foreign Powers and armaments, and having regard for the deplorable record of the Government, the Labour Party declines to accept responsibility for a purely competitive armaments policy. It reserves its full liberty to criticise the re-arma-ment programme of the present Government, and declares the continuance of vested interests in the private manufacture of arms to be a grave contributory danger to the peace of the world."* A lively debate ensued.. FASCISTS AND TREATY-BREAKING. Dr. Dalton proceeded to say that treaty-breaking had become a daily Fascist habit. The Government had a crusading responsibility for what had happened. The sly evasions of Sir John Simon, the prim pretences-of Sir Samuel Hoare, the feeble amiability of Mr. Eden, the lazy lack of'leader* ship of Mr. Baldwin, and the senile vanity of Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald had contributed to the plight of Britain and the world. . "SO FAR, NO FARTHER." The time had come, he said, when Britain must tell the Fascist States "There is a limit; so far and no farther," but they must also say, "Come and join us and state your grievances." Mr. Arthur Henderson, in seconding the resolution, said that the raw materials of the world must be pooled. Lord Strabolgi said the time had come when the democratic and Socialist Powers must be armed in mutual support. "I don't want a Labour Government that will be weak and open to the bullying of blackmailing threats of Fascist Powers," he said. Mr. George Lansbwy opposed the resolution and said that armaments could not save the world. Even the dictatorship nations must foe brought to a round table and led along the road to peace. Mr. Charles Dukes, general secretary of the National Union .of General and Municipal Workers, said: "Dictator nations should be told, if they want a decision by the sword, that we shall not flinch." NO BLANK CHEQUES. The Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Mr.,C. R. Attlee, winding up the debate, denied that the resolution committed the Labour Party to the Government's re-armament policy, and said that Labour would continue to criticise the armaments programme and would decline to give a blank cheque. That did not mean that they said no arms were required. Collective security must be backed by a'sufficient force to deal with an aggressor. "We are not prepared to be conquered by Fascism either from without or within," he added.

A,card vote resulted:—For the resolution, 1.738,000; against, 637.000.