FASCISTS AND COMMUNISTS

Evening Star, Issue 22462, 6 October 1936, Page 9

FASCISTS AND COMMUNISTS

THE LONDON DISTURBANCES * A HUMBER OF ARRESTS frew Association —By Telegraph Copyright LONDON, October 4. Both Communists and Fascists held meetings in the East End to-night, Strongly guarded by police. The arrests made during the day for obstruction and assault totalled 63. Scotland Yard states that, largely owing to one of the finest days of the year, many people assembled, including women and children. Disorder broke out and the procession was banned to prevent further breaches of the peace. A Communist Party statement says: “ Mass action-* of the working people exposed the pro-Fascist attitude of the Home Office and the police, which sought to the last moment to enable Mosley to march. This was responsible for the baton charges and arrests.” BATON CHARGES BY POLICE LONDON, October 5. The London Hospital treated 20 people for bruises, including two girls, who were trodden down, and two Fascists. The police made many baton charges, and the most serious clash occurred in Cable street, where the crowd, thinking that the Fascists Would pass that way, took a lorry from » builder’s yard and started to build a barricade. The police here charged a dozen times, and received a shower Of bricks and stones. EVENTS DEPLORED DY LABOUR CONFERENCE LONDON, October 5. (Received October 6, at 11 a.m.) The Labour conference at Edinburgh carried a resolution deploring yesterday’s events in the East End, condemning the Government for not banning the Fascist march and demanding the prohibition of political uniforms and militarised politics. The conference supported non-inter-yention in Spain by a huge majority, “ A PUBLIC NUISANCE ■? (British 'Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 5, (Received October 6, at noon.) Ik connection with the Fascist march to London, altogether some 80 persons were arrested and are being charged with obstructing the police. As a result most newspapers praise the police for their,hand ling of a dangerous situation, 1 The Times,’ in a leading article headed ‘A Public Nuisance,’ says: P This sort of hooliganism must clearly be ended. The activities of both Fascists and Communists in this country seem to most people to be tedious and rather a pitiable burlesque, but the law rightly allows them, like other people, to express their opinions and to testify to their beliefs by methods of procession and public meetings. What can be done, and what was done yesterday, is for the police to decide at the time on every occasion, whether the procession or meeting is likely to provoke a breach of the peace, and to decide accordingly whether it is to be held or not. The decision can be taken without any regard to the relative merits of Fascists and Communists. To most people there does not seem much to choose between them as dangers to public order.” ANOTHER MEETING CANCELLED LONDON, October 5. (Received October 6, at 11.45 a.m.) Following communication with the police, the Fascist meeting at Bow. East London, was cancelled a few minutes before the start. The Fascists marched to another meeting at Bethnal Green.