The Liberal Party will press for legislation in the next House of Commons session banning political uniforms, it was announced today by Sir Percy Harris, chief Liberal whip.
It was learned that the government will issue a statement on October 29, dealing with Sunday’s riots between Sir Oswald Mosley’s blackshirted Fascists and anti-Fascists in London’s East End. More than 200 were injured and 69 arrested in the clashes.
The Manchester Guardian called upon the British government to end anti-Semitic agitation, declaring that it was generally agreed that the time had come for such action.
The editorial caustically rebuked the government for ignoring debates in the House of Commons on past Fascist outrages in the East End and added that no person who heard those debates could fail to understand Sunday’s uprising of the populace against the Fascists.
“The government paid too little attention,” the newspaper stated, “to those debates, Perhaps, they will pay more to Sunday’s happenings.”
Police this morning charged crowds in Stepney Green in an attempt to rout Jew-baiters, who were pursued and found on the stairs of a tenement with Fascist literature in their possession. The area was cordoned off.
Last night police for a second time banned a Fascist meeting in London’s East End while Sir John Simon, Home Secretary, asked for a complete report on yesterday’s abortive parade of 5,000 Blackshirts.
The meeting at Bethnal Green last night was cancelled after disorders flared anew. Police armed with clubs charged a crowd demonstrating against the Fascists.
Sir John’s request for a report on the rioting that blocked yesterday’s scheduled parade into London’s Jewish quarter and forced the police to cancel it was believed to be a prelude to a Cabinet discussion of the question.
With Sir Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists charging that rights of free speech were violated in the prohibition of the parade, the Cabinet was understood to be planning to consider asking Parliament to define free speech.
Decisions on permitting future demonstrations will be left to the discretion of the police, it was expected, and greater restrictions on parades will be introduced.
East End residents mobilized to combat Fascist activities. Jewish and non-Jewish inhabitants of the section, at a mass meeting last night, demanded protection of the law against Blackshirt invasions.
Speakers charged that Mosley was spending $10,000 a week on propaganda. Trade union representatives addressed the rally and pledged labor’s support in fighting Fascism and anti-Semitism.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
