Labour speakers were severely handicapped by the fact that they
were driven to take up a defensive attitude on their armament record. It was clear both from the speeches of Front Benchers and Back Benchers that the Labour Party are finding themselves increasingly vulner- able on this issue, and desperately anxious to put them- selves right on it before they begin exploiting the League situation in the country. What they have to explain, however, is not merely their votes against armaments in the House of Commons, which they now insist were merely token votes designed to raise issues of public policy, but the fact that they placarded the hoardings at the Elections with posters inscribed " Armaments mean war " ; " More armaments mean more war." Their difficulties are increased by the strength of the pacifist vote on their flank. It was significant that of the five speeches that the Labour Party made, two came from anti-sanctionists below the gangway, Mr. Lansbury and Sir Stafford Cripps, who were supported by Mr. Maxton, for the I.L.P.
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