COMMUNIST BACKING

Evening Star, Issue 25893, 10 September 1946, Page 7

COMMUNIST BACKING

SQUATTERS IN LONDON’S WEST END FURTHER CONCERTED ACTION PLANNED (Rec. 9 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 9. The 1.000 “squatters,” who seized a West End block of luxury flats, were assisted by 500 helpers under the direction of the Communist Party, who organised the operation. The political correspondent of the ‘ Daily Express ’ savs it is thought that the Government will order the “ squatters ” to get out, In the event of the squatters being forcibly ejected the Communists said that they would call on members to rally to their support. Twenty-five squatters occupied an empty house jn Philliroore Gardens, Kensington. More than 100 luxury flats and seven houses and mansions in Kensington and Marylebone have now been taken over. The Ministries of Health and Works called emergency meetings to consider the squatters’ invasion. v The Communist Party headquarters issued this statement; “ Regardless of any official warning, we are determined to get at least 10,000 of our members into decent houses immediately,” The squatters, who are confident that they are there to stay, spent the morning cleaning up and making themselves at home. The leader of the squatteis’ committee, Mr Stanley Henderson said: “ We will not budge. We are m and we are going to stay.” The night was uneventful except-that the squatters were increased by one when a woman gave birth to a baby. ■Agencies report that the families who moved in yesterday had been living in the worst possible housing conditions, and they had been selected for that reason. One family of four from Shepherd’s Bush lived in a converted bath-living room and small bedroom. Another family of seven occupied two rooms.