4 OCTOBER 1935, Page 3

Impressions at Brighton .

One remarkable field-day, on Sanctions and the League, was enjoyed by the Labour Party conference (a cor- respondent who was present writes). Probably no Labour assembly has ever listened to a better series of debating. speeches as the setting for a dramatic personal encounter this case between Mr. Ernest Bevin and Mr. Laiisbury. Mr. Bevin was bitter, but the delegates as a whole seemed to feel that he was saying things that needed to be said. They delighted in his emendation of Mr. Lansbury's scripture text. " They that take the sword," said Mr. Bevin, " shall perish by—economic sanctions." ' Sir• Stafford Cripps's effort was muddled and feeble. On all hands I heard it- said that Mr. Lansbury's defence in the conference was not to be compared in, quality with an address. which he delivered the previous evening to an audience of Labour candidates. His auditors agree that this was a Wonderful utterance. The second day's debate on Sanctions was made notable by two speeches-- Mr. Morrison's wind-up for the Executive (" Herbert has at last become a statesman," they were saying), and a faultless contribution from Mr. Philip Noel Baker. In Geneva last month one heard much talk about a striking fUll-length statement by Mr. Noel Baker on theLeague outlook. I missed that ; but I do not hesitate to say that there is no man in the Labour Party or out of it whO could put a case in ten minutes more con- vincingly than Mr. Noel Baker did at Brighton on Wednesday.