NOISY MINORITY

Evening Star, Issue 25672, 21 December 1945, Page 5

NOISY MINORITY

FASCIST ELEMENT IN BRITAIN REPRESSIVE MEASURES CONSIDERED (Rec. noon.) LONDON, Dec. 20. An indication that he was considering whether wider legal powers should be obtained to deal witn the resurgence of Fascist activity in Britain was given by the Home Secretary, Mr Chuter Ede, in the House of Commons to-day. Replying to a long series of questions about the activities of Sir Oswald Mosley and his supporters, Mr Ede said the conditions under which Mosley was released from detention ceased to havo effect when Defence Regulation 18 B was revoked. The Government was aware of all the risks involved in a revival of Fascist activity, and was keeping a close watch for any such manifestations. He was not prepared to announce what steps would be taken if the menace became pronounced, but he had no intention that democracy should be overthrown _ by truculent minorities. The Special Branch of Scotland Yard would not exceed its present powers, but he did not want to blink the fact that it might be necessary to. arm the Home Secretary with greater powers in future. Mr Ede at the same time appealed to members of the House of Commons to excerise a sense of proportion. He reminded them that they were members of a very ancient democracy with a great sense of humour. They should npt flatter these people by making them appear more menacing than they were.

' One of the questioners, Mr Levy, asked whether the Minister would consider appointing a small legal commission to advise means of protecting the country on the basis that it was not sensible in the name of freedom to allow men to destroy freedom.