The Week in Parliament
Our Parliamentary Correspondent writes : The dis- orders during Sir Oswald Mosley's meeting at Olympia have found an echo in the House of Commons. The tone of questions has already revealed a clash between those who hate the interruption of the right of free speech and those who hate still more the brutality with which the Fascists have been charged by many impartial members of the audience. There is no doubt that most of the former are inspired less by love of Fascism than by bitter knowledge of the growing impossibility of obtaining a hearing at more ordinary political meetings. That is why they include more than die-hards such as Mr. M. Beaumont or Sir William Davison. On the other side, some of the protesters against brutality expose them- selves to the charge that their indignation against inter- ruptions of quite unprovocative meetings is not so evident. The bulk of Members fully appreciated Sir John Gilmour's replies, which explained the limitations of the powers of the police to maintain order inside meetings and promised to take all necessary steps to increase those powers. Whether the police can prevent disorders is quite another matter ; but there can be little doubt that the Govern- ment cannot swiftly tackle so terribly complicated a step as banning meetings or distinctive dress, though some assert that it can be done without interfering with the right to express opinions.
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