§ 61. Mr. J. HALLasked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the advisability of arranging for increased police supervision when Fascist public meetings are held in the streets of Stepney, such meetings being of a provocative character, there being evidence of a deliberate attempt to create racial strife by raising the anti-Jewish question in a manner calculated to provoke violence and bloodshed?
§ Mr. LLOYDSpecial steps are being taken by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to deal with any attempt to insult or molest the Jews. The Commissioner informs me that only one Fascist meeting has been held in Stepney this year, and that this meeting was adequately policed.
§ Mr. HALLIs the hon. Gentleman aware that concurrently with the holding of these Fascist meetings in Stepney uniformed Blackshirts parade the streets using insulting epithets to the Jewish people? Will the Home Secretary consider taking steps to prevent those incitements to disorder?
§ Mr. LLOYDI was not aware of the particular instance which the hon. Member has brought to my notice, but I would remind him that extra police were drafted into certain areas by the Commissioner to deal with this problem, and I have no doubt that they are doing so.
§ Mr. HALLIs the Under-Secretary aware that the position in Stepney is becoming a very difficult one and a menace, and will he consider the possibility of providing adequate police protection in order to prevent the possible development of this state of affairs into a riot very shortly?
§ Sir PERCY HARRISIs the hon. Gentleman aware that these incitements to violence against the Jews are not by any means confined to Stepney but are going on all through the East End of London, and that they are most offensive and provocative? Will he inquire into them personally?
§ Mr. LLOYDCertainly, but I would remind hon. Members that my right hon. Friend did make it clear in the Debate we had earlier that language of an insulting kind would in certain circumstances be an offence.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWill the hon. Gentleman tell his chief that it is a fact that this sort of thing is increasing in East London? Is he aware that if a tithe of the energy which was forthcoming in dealing with Communists a few years ago were applied by the Department to preventing these insulting statements, and sometimes assaults, an end would be put to the present state of affairs? I want him to convey to his right hon. Friend that the present state of affairs is increasing all over East London.
§ Mr. LLOYDCertainly, I will convey to my right hon. Friend what the right hon. Gentleman has said, but I would also remind him that in the last few months my right hon. Friend has shown that he takes a personal interest in this matter, and I am certain that in the light of the additional information which lion. Members have put forward he will give further attention to it.