The Gisborne Times WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1937. AN UNPOPULAR MOVEMENT AT HOME

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 13126, 24 March 1937, Page 4

The Gisborne Times WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1937. AN UNPOPULAR MOVEMENT AT HOME

Although, not a little perturbation may have been occasioned overseas on account of Sir Stafford Cripps’ advice to the worker's at Homo—that, if they refused to make armaments and munitions, tho capitalists .would rcquiro to hand over tin* country to them—ho has becomo so notorious for indiscreet statements that the British people would not be likely to have paid much attention to his latest outburst. Sir Stafford is a Socialist, but ho' lias proved a tremendous, handicap to that party on account of Iris lone hand attitude. Far from proving contrite when be lias been “carpeted” for making embarrassing public utterances, bo has preferred to display defiance. Only a few weeks ago, the Socialist Party officials invited him to meet them at Transport House and carefully explained to him their anxiety in regard to the tenor of in's speeches. But, as might be imagined they wore nonplussed when htl replied tl-at he would not withdraw any of the views that ho had expressed and, further, that he did not intend to alter- their tone for the future. What may not also be well-known overseas is that Sir Stafford is one of the promoters of a “United Front” movement for Britain. Ho is a member of the Socialist League, which has signeel an agreement with the Independent Labour Party and the Communist Party to combine all the “LeftWingers.” As showing how hostile is tho Socialist Party to thef movement, it may be pointed out that it has notified its members that, if they join the “United Front,” they will he liable to expulsion. Plainly, if tho Socialist Party had its way, it would, of course, drop Sir Stafford. As a matter of fact, it jias made several attempts to do so, but, on each occasion, he has refused to he jettisoned. His latest outburst has not been without some advantage, for, as a. sequel, it has been revealed that Britain docs not want a “United Front” movement. The three groups of which it would be composed are so numerically weak that even the Socialist Party does not worry about them. AH that Dir Stafford was trying to do when he) made Id’s latest traitorous' outburst was to rally Socialist waverers to the “United Front” cause. AVhat may now lx? taken for granted is that, as the Socialist Party refuses to identify itself with his new party, it is not likely to make any appreciable headway. In future, therefore, further indiscreet speeches on Sir Stafford's nart may be taken at a very considerable disecnnt for Ids is (as It- were) a lone voice crying in tho political wilderness at Home.