THE OLYMPIA MUTINY

Evening Star, Issue 21748, 16 June 1934, Page 15

THE OLYMPIA MUTINY

DISCUSSION in commons LIBERAL AND LABOUR COMPLAINTS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. ■LONDON, June 15. In the House of Commons Mr Isaac Foot (Liberal); on the Hdme Office vote, initiated a debate on the, disturbance at the Fascist meeting at Olympia. He said that there was ample evidence of rough handlings, despite Sir Oswald Mosley’s denials. He regretted that Sir Oswald Mosley was unable to put his own viewpoint in the House of Commons, but his brother-in-arms, Lord Rothermere', could speak in the House of Lords. There was growing alarm at this increasing violence.

Major; C. R. Attlee (Labour) said that the unjustifiable brutality pt Olympia was disturbing the public mind. Sir Oswald Mosley’s methods were those of a'gang drawn from the worst elements of the population. Sir Oswald Mosley’ was definitely antiparliamentary, anti-democratic, sometimes anti-Semitic, and even antireligious. It was dangerous to have a man like Sir'Oswald Mosley commanding ample funds and raising semimilitary forces. : The Secretary of State for Home 'Affairs (Sir John Gilmour), in reply, said that the police could not enter a meeting'without the promoters’ invitation. Possibly the Government would have to arm the police with > more powers. If the Fascist refusal to alIbw the police to enter the meeting were repeated he would not hesitate to use other means. He thought a public inquiry unnecessary and inadvisable. The worst thing they could do for the democracy of parliamentary institutions was to appear to be stampeded. He thought, the best way would be for all party leaders to confer with him to seek a general agreement bn .the course of action to be taken in the interest of free speech. No Government could for a moment allow any body, semi-military dr non-military, to tisuip the power of executive government.