A Provocative Procession Scotland Yard received unqualified support in all
sane political quarters for maintaining its ban on political proces- sions in the East End of London ; so it has the less justifica- tion for climbing down to Sir Oswald Mosley, and allowing him to execute a parade-march through South-East London instead. We gave our reasons last week for thinking that the right course now is to interdict political processions in any part of London ; the legitimate purposes which they once served being now obsolete, while the material objections to them are immensely greater than they used to be. A Home Secretary with a clearer head and stouter courage than Sir Samual Hoare can now pretend to would undoubtedly haw. acted in that sense. The London Labour Party has issued to its members an exhortation to stay away. This is a counsel of perfection—too perfect to be followed by those most in need of it. The Bermondsey Labour Party has probably made a more practical contribution to peace by summoning its followers to a monster counter-demonstration along a different route. But the risks ought never to have been run ; and if disturbance results nothing will excuse the Home Secretary. The streets are meant for transit not for political demonstrations.
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