Council

Northern Advocate, 5 October 1948, Page 5

Council

Red Demonstration As Minister Speaks

LONDON, Mon. (11 a.m.).—Communist demonstrators scattered handbills and paraded with banners in protest when the Minister of Defence (Mr Alexander) opened the territorial recruiting campaign today in a speech at the Mansion Plouse. Two demonstrators rushed on to the balcony while Mr Alexander was speaking. As attendants grappled with them, anti-war bills fluttered down to the crowd below. A number of demonstrators carried banners with the words “Peace, Not War,” and “No War for Yankee Dollars.” Later, 11 men and one woman were charged with disorderly conduct. Mr Alexander in his speech said: “This is a time when we must build with a trowel, but retain our capacity to defend with the sword.

LONDON’S LEAD

“I find personal pride in the City of London taking the lead in sending a call to the nation in an hour which is certainly serious, and could, if we faltered, easily become dangerous. “The nations of Western Europe attend your answer. “The Dominions, Commonwealth and our American cousins all wonder Whether the lion is sick or merely sleeping after the exertions which brought victory. “We laboured for peace sincerely and will continue to do so, but events of the last 20 months prove that the issue today is whether the heart of the free world beats strongly yet, whether this country still has the strength to withstand attacks on human freedom. “It was plain to me last week in Paris that in building up the resources of the Western Union, the greatest help we could give our friends lay in a practical demonstration of our own will to be strong, both economically and in defence.

“It is in such a resurgence of hope, and courage throughout Western Europe that lies the best prospect of avoiding the dangers that loom so large.”