BRITAIN’S LABOUR PARTY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19480, 12 November 1937, Page 3

BRITAIN’S LABOUR PARTY

MR. LANSBURY’S STAND PACIFIST OPPOSITION LONDON, Sept. 29. Not the least troublesome problem facing the British Labour Party in its attempt to capture popular public support as an. alternative Government is what to do about Mr. George Lansbury, the veteran labour politician, who, apart from occasional self-inspired, self-conducted peace missions” to the Continent, holds vei y definite views about the Labour Party. Mr. Lansbury, speaking at Caernarvon, made it clear that he intends to be free inside and outside the House of Commons to express his pacifist opposition to official Labour's arms policy. "It is impossible for men and women of principle to put their minds m pawn” was one of his statements. “The discussion which has taken place since the Trades Union Congiess concerning the right of the majouty to enforce its view upon the minority in the Labour Party is of very serious importance to the whole movement. “There is much talk of a split in the Labour Party on this issue, especially from the point of view of pacifist opposition to the party policy in relation to armaments. “Some Labour leaders appear to imagine that democracy in Britain is a dead letter. They claim that the majority has the right to control the minds and actions of the minorities. A Socialism which tries to control thought and speech is the very worst form of dictatorship. "As a member of the Labour party, I shall exorcise the right which is inherent in every democratic movement to try to change the views ol my comrades and turn the minority into the majority. "Tiie Labour and trade union movement is standing on a very slippery slope, down which, unless it is careful, it will rush to destruction. The Labour Party will only continue to exist on the basis of free speech, Iroo discussion, and free voting on matters which touch men's deepesl feelings and beliefs."