COMMUNISTS REJECTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22853, 7 October 1937, Page 12

COMMUNISTS REJECTED

LABOUR PARTY IN BRITAIN

DECISIVE VOTE RECORDED

LONDON, Oct. 5

The Labour Party Conference debated the proposal for a United Front, which Sir Stafford Cripps moved, should be adopted. He asserted it was vital to adopt this policy. He said that Lord Cecil, Mr. Winston Churchill and the Archbishop of Canterbury were three of the most bitter opponents of the work-ing-class in Britain, yet prominent Labour members would share platforms with them.

Sir. Herbert Morrison retorted that there was nothing to prevent Labour members appearing on platforms with members of other parties. Mr. Pollitt, a member of the Independent Labour Party, had appeared with the Duchess of Atholl. but would not speak with Trotsky if he came to London, yet Trotsky was a Socialist. Mr. J. K. Clynes expressed the viewpoint of the executive and replied that they were convinced that association with the Communists would be fatal to the future progress of the Labour Party. ,

Mr. Morrison declared: "If you want a first-class row in the Labour movement'talk United Front. This sort of thing will split the Labour Party from top to bottom." The delegates defeated Sir Stafford Cripps' motion by 1,730,000 vote 3 to 373,000. The result was greeted with loud cheers and some uproar.