Churchill in Hostile Territory

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 157, 5 July 1945, Page 5

Churchill in Hostile Territory

Cheers and Boos from Audience of 20,000 (By Telegraph-Press Assn.— Copyright..! Received Wednesday, 7.30 p.m. LONDON, July 3. Mr. Churchill addressed one of the most tumultuous meetings of his career when 20,000 people gave him a mixed reception of cheers and boos at Walthamstow Stadium to-night. Mr. Churchill arrived accompanied by Mrs. Churchill and half a dozen plainclothes detectives. Interruptions and counter-cheers began immediately he started to speak, causing him to comment: “This is a peculiar gathering in which both sides are taking part.” After saying that everyone was free to cheer or boo as he pleased, he added: “But it is a serious question if interruptions are made with the intention of stopping free speech. Anyone who interrupts in an organised manner at a great public gathering is guilty of the very crime which our soldiers have swept away from Europe by fire and sword.” Mr. Churchill went on to congratulate the Londoners for their composure throughout the war, adding that one out of 130 of them had been killed, either by going abroad to fight or by remaining at home to be bombed. The greatest outburst of catcalls and interruptions occurred when Mr. Churchill, after stating that his immediate aim was to finish the Japanese war, added: “Then we must rebuild the homes shattered by the enemy and make pp for the loss of six years’ building which the war has entailed.’’ * PRIVATE ENTERPRISE

This was the signal for interjections throughout the Stadium, after which Mr. Churchill was heard to say: “Before the war we built 350.000 houses in one year. ’ * After renewed uproar, he continued: “Look out! Hold on to your chair! This is one you won’t like —private enterprise built two-thirds of those houses. Have a good boo about that! If you want to know why we haven’t repaired and rebuilt the warshattered houses you must ask Messrs. Attlee and Bevin and that great Londoner, Mr. Herbert Morrison.”

Pandemonium followed this and when quiet was restored Mr. Churchill added: “Because if we are blameworthy, they are blameworthy, too.” Amidst the ensuing uproar Mr. Churchill, who appeared, to be enjoying himself, said: “Another two minutes will be allowed for booing if you like. ’ ’ The audience took full advantage of the offer, a large section breaking into the organised chant: “We want Labour.” Mr. Churchill, when he succeeded in making himself heard, added that everything in human power would be done to get houses built, which brought renewed interjections, whereupon he walked in the direction whence the noise was coming. With arms outstretched, he urged them: “Come on and get it off your chest.” The crowd took up the challenge. Mr. Churchill, after outlining the Conservatives’ four-year plan under continual interruption declared: “This exhibition to-night should be a great warning to the British people not to vote for men whose mental confusion is such that they would not hesitate to cause civic disorders to prevent the exercise of the British right of free speech. ’ ’ There was round after round of applause when the Conservative candidate, moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Churchill, said: “It is my duty to tell you that most of the audience arc with you. ’ *

Mr. Churchill, replying, said: “I give my entire forgiveness to the booers. I am sure they are going to get a thrash ing such as their party has not received since it was born.”

Thousands outside the Stadium cheered when Mr. Churchill emerged to embark on his tour of North and East London. Mr. Churchill, standing upright in the back seat of his car with a freshly-lit cigar stuck in his mouth at a challenging angle, acknowledged the reception by making the V-sign. CHURCHILL’S GREAT TOUR OF LONDON. The most talked-off election campaign development among the general public is Mr. Churchill’s three-stage tour of London, says the Australian Associated Press. The Labour campaigners, in an effort to offset the undeniable enthusiasm with which Mr. Churchill was greeted, planted loud-speakers at many points on his route and harangued the crowds with denunciations of the emergence of the “Puhrer principle” in British public life. Labour speakers throughout the country increasingly emphasise that the winning of the war is net a one-man job. Polling has already started for the 5,90.000 troops in Europe and “flying ballot boxes” are bringing in returns from the Channel Islands, Brussels and Luneburg. Special arrangements have been completed to bring back votes from the 100,000 servicemen and women in Southeast Asia. The ballot papers will be on their way to England within nine days of their arrival at Southeast Asia Command Headquarters. NO HELP FOR FASCISTS. Mr. Churchill has authorised a statement denying that the Conservative Party is fostering the regrowth of the Fascist Party. “Organs of the Socialist Press approached former Fascists and tried to get statements from them pinning the blame for shielding them on the Conservatives, ’ ’ he says. * ‘ The Socialist Press was the only body throughout the country which made contact with these people, who no doubt are very glad to find anybody willing to talk to them,’ ’ he said. Captain Mark Hewitson, of London, who has been industrial officer of the National Union of General and Municipal Workers for 12 years, has been selected as Labour candidate for Central Hull in succession to the late member, Mr. Walter Windsor. R.A.F. crews will risk death in dangerous air conditions to get 20,000 soldiers’ votes home from the battle areas of Pegu-Yomas and the Mawchi Road in Burma, states the Daily Express correspondent at General Leeso’s headquarters. Light planes will fly over swamps and pick up special mailbags by swooping down to three feet above ground level and snatching them by hooks on the underpart of the planes. There will be 250,000 proxy votes in addition to the 20,000 direct.