LABOUR POLICY

Southland Times, Issue 22217, 9 January 1934, Page 5

LABOUR POLICY

“FOOLISH OUTBURST”

SIR STAFFORD CRIPPS’S

INDISCRETION

REFERENCE TO THE

PALACE

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) London, January 7. “Undoubtedly the Labour Party will have to overcome opposition from Buckingham Palace and other places when it comes into power,” Sir Stafford Cripps, M.P., told the annual conference of the University Labour Federation. He added: “We must act rapidly. It will be necessary to deal with the House of Lords and also the City of London’s influence. There must be no time to allow forces outside to assemble influence in the legislature before the key points of capitalism, namely, land and finance, are transferred to the control of the State.” Referring to the possibility of war, Sir Stafford Cripps said: “If we intend making a general strike a constructive or destructive part of our policy we must organize elaborate machinery within the trades unions which 192 b showed to be necessary; also we.must be prepared to deal with any subsequent situation assuming that „ the strike is going to achieve our aims. The Despatch states that . even his Socialist colleagues are angered by Sir Stafford Cripps’s disgraceful and foolish outburst. Mr J. R. Clynes said there were too many people speaking on the Labour policy which, after all, was clearly set out in the constitution. Sir Stafford Cripps told the Sunday Express that he had not implied opposition from the Crown. He had used the words “Buckingham Palace” in a general sense as meaning the entourage. Following widespread criticism, Sir Stafford Cripps explained that there was a misconception concerning what he intended to convey in the term Buckingham Palace. He added: “It is a well-known expression _ describing Court circles and the officials surrounding the Crown. I cannot understand why anyone thought I was referring to the King. One always assumes the complete impartiality of the Crown, which is the basic principle of our Constitution.”

EMBARRASSMENT LIKELY

REPUTATION NOT ENHANCED.

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 7.0 p.m.) London, January 8. The Times comments that Sir Stafford Cripps’s speech must prove most embarrassing to the more responsible elements of the party to which he is at least affiliated. “He will hardly enhance his reputation even among the audience of academic politicians,” it sa-s. “Possibly his desire is to catch the public ear with something sensational.”