6 OCTOBER 1950, Page 3

A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK

AT the opening session of the Labour Party conference a Mr. Crisp, according to The Times," said he had found it awkward not being able to tell reporters in a few words exactly what Socialism was accepted to be and asked that the research department should work out a concise definition." Mr. Morrison promised that the executive would keep this request in mind. This clear indication that machinery exists, and may quite possibly be used, for diagnosing the political principles on which this country has been run for the last five years should go far to silence the reactionaries who are always damaging national unity by imputing to our rulers a certain woolliness of mind.