13 JANUARY 1923, Page 3

Unemployed demonstrations were held in the industrial centres last Sunday,

the London meeting in Trafalgar Square. To the outside observer, the most notable feature of the meetings was their dual character. The driving force behind them was obviously extreme Communism, on which a super-structure of solid and respectable Trades Unionism had been added. For instance, in front of Nelson Mr. Fred Bromley was making a short and practical speech simply demanding that Parliament should reassemble at once to consider measures to alleviate unemployment; while on the other side of the monument, behind the Admiral's back, Mr. Lansbury was busy singing " The Red Flag " amidst a flutter of Communist banners and sashes which made the crowd look like one of those charming French prints of the 'forty-eight. However, the meeting was neither very big nor very fierce.