THE I.L.P. AND MOSCOW

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 94, 4 April 1934, Page 9

THE I.L.P. AND MOSCOW

Preserving Its Independence MOVEMENT ON LAST LEGS LONDON, April 3. Tho Independent Labour conference at York agreed by 102 votes to 61 to accept the council’s recommendation, which means that the party still desires association with Moscow’ but is not prepared to pay Moscow’s terms lor affiliation. Live different amendments to the recommendation were discussed before the decision was reached. Mr Archibald Fenner-Brockway said that the working-class movement was faced with compromising its reformist policy. It was powerless to deal with ■a world situation in which living standards were ruthlessly attacked, in which Fascism was triumphant over a large part of Europe and in which widespread war was imminent. The executive sought unity with the Communist International without sacrificing its own independence. The “Daily Telegraph” -says: “Independent Labour is on its last legs. Its political, influence is nil. A decade ago its membership was 30,000; last year it was 6000, and now it is 4000. Lancashire Labour is the latest defection. These delegates are likely either to join the Socialist League, in which Sir Stafford Cripps is prominent, or to form a new Socialist pa-ty.”