ANGRY PROTESTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 November 1943, Page 4

ANGRY PROTESTS

AGAINST THE RELEASE OF THE MOSLEYS IN HOUSE OF COMMONS LOBBY AND IN ADJACENT STREETS. DELEGATES FROM MANY PARTS OF BRITAIN. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright' (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, November 2,3. While Mr Herbert Morrison, in the Hcuse of Commons, was explaining the release of the Mosleys, angry scenes developed in the Central Lobby, to which about 200 men and women had been admitted to interview members of the House. The scenes lasted fcr about two hours. Cards were sent in asking members of all parties to come out, and the moment a member appeared he was surrounded by a gesticulating crowd of men and girls, who demanded to know vzhat they were working in war factories for, and why the husbands of the girls were fighting if the ex-Leader of the British Fascists was to be released. Extra police were on duty .but it sometimes looked as though the demonstrators might get out of hand. One tall Conservative member became, involved in a fierce argument with about 40 indignant people. Other members and demonstrators nearly came to blows, which were just avoided. One woman carried a petition ten feet long, bearing 3,000 signatures, collected in several districts in Central London. Mr Morrison did hot come out into the lobby, but other Ministers stood watching the scene. A crowd later marched from the House of Commons and reported to a gathering of hundreds who held a demonstration in Parliament Square, outside the House. Mounted police at one stage advanced against the crowd, amid boos and catcalls. Meanwhile Dr. L. Haden Guest, M.P., reported to a section of the demonstrators on Mr Morrison’s statement. Dr. Guest said the statement was thor-' cughly unsatisfactory, and added: “I don’t see why Mosley was released on medical grounds, because he could get all medical treatment inside Holloway. I understand Mosley occupied a fourroomed, centrally-heated flat. The idea that he cannot get medical treatment there is poppycock.” By 11 a.m., at least 1,000 demonstrators, repreesnting about 20,000 workers from all parts of the country, gathered outside Parliament, with more dele-' gates continually arriving. The demonstrators marched with banners, some shouting: “We want Mosley” As one delegate hoisted a red banner, bearing the words, “Gaol Mosley,” the whole crowd burst into cheers. Another banner read: “Mosley in, Morrison out.”

. Demonstrations continued in the Whitehall area all day. Several columns finally marched down the Strand, carrying banners and shouting: “Put Mosley back in gaol!” The demonstrators entered Fleet Street, where deputations waited on the newspapers and news agencies.