LABOUR PARTY'S BIG GUNS BOOM

Chronicle (Levin), 29 November 1946, Page 5

LABOUR PARTY'S BIG GUNS BOOM

Press Assn.

PLAIN SPEAKING AT "1NQUEST" ON THE FOREIGN POLICY REVOLT

Rebeliion Leader's Admission Saves The Day

Bv Telegraph

-Copyright

Reeeived Friday, 11.15 a.m. LONDON, November 28. Mr. Herbert Morrison resisted ah attempt to impose voting restrictions on Labour Coramoners at a private meeting of the Parliamentarv Labour Party today, says the Press Association. Mr. Attlee, Sir Stafford Cripps and Mr. Morrison joined in long diseussions with the "rebels" who moved the foreign policy amendment last week. A group of members with trade union interests proposed expulsion from the party for any similar future action. Mr. Morrison, however, insisted that Labour members have complete independence, and the meeting took no actioh.

The party carried, with two i dissentients, a motion deploring1 organised action by minorities contrary to a decision of a party meeting, and affirming the desirability of party machinery in the discussion of matters relating to the party's policy. The motion expressed a desire that unity in the party be preserved by good fellowship and co-operation. The Evening Standard's political correspondent, giving his version ti' the meeting, says the big guns. boomed so heavily that r.he recent rebeliion over foreign affairs was completely crushed. The prime mover apologised and bit the duM. There were tumultuous scenes, with accusations being hurled across the room, speakers unable to make themselves heard and the chairman making futile efforts to rest-.ce order. According to the correspondent, Mr. Morrison vehementl," denounced the rebels. He said five r si.v of them were "ripe for the nigh juaip," adding that their caodidatnre would have to get the aational executive's endorsement at i ne next election. The correspondent adds that Mr. Attlee astonished everyone i y the ferocity of his attack. He said: "If you don't like your leader.

you can go ahead and change him. Meanwhile, you must be lo/a-.." He described the ostentatious refusal to vote in Ihe division November 18 as a public declaration by mere than 100 party members that ihey had lost confidence in th 2 Government's foreign policy. Mr. Attlee declared that tliis ' demonstration of disloyalty was no sudden dutburst of passion, but a ilong range and carefully organised :revolt. He warned that a party ' within the party would not be i n- ! erated. The rebels, at private muesjings, had plotted and detailed the'r i strategy, and had carried out a Ipreconceived plan under skiiled jleaders. , Mr. Morrison intervened to say ithat their whips worked even oet- ; ter than the Government w.r.ps, ; because nothing the latter did could ; dissuade the solid phalanx of 'rebels to disobey their own whips. i Mr. Ricliard Crossman, after Jhearing Mr. Attlee, admitted that he was the leader oi the "Rebeliion." He said he vished to express his full and sincere regret to the partv for tabling the amendment. ■ "It was the wrong thing to do," he ] added. • Cheers greeted Mr. Crossman'f i statement, which, says the corres- , pondent, saved the day.