HC Deb 17 November 1936 vol 317 cc1505-6
47. Mr. MANDER

asked the Prime Minister what action he proposes to take with reference to the activities of the Peace Pledge Union, of 96, Regent Street, London, an organisation sponsored by the right hon. Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury), Canon Sheppard, Lord Ponsonby, Mr. Siegfried Sassoon, Mr. Aldous Huxley, Miss Rose Macaulay, and other prominent leaders in various spheres of public life; whether he is aware that the union already possesses over 115,000 pledges from persons of military age under no circumstances to take part in war; that 236 local branches have been organised; and that the present divided state of opinion in this country on foreign policy is giving a powerful stimulus to the movement?

Sir J. SIMON

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to him on 25th June last.

Mr. MANDER

Do the Government realise that this organisation is directly challenging the whole armaments programme of the Government and that they are, for example, advising their members not to co-operate in black-out practice or gas drill? Are the Government going to allow this organisation to develop as it is all over the country?

Mr. LANSBURY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Canon Sheppard and his friends are extremely grateful to the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) for giving them such a splendid advertisement?

Mr. LENNOX-BOYD

May I ask whether many would-be breakers of the peace on the Continent are not also very grateful for this information, and whether this society does not give direct encouragement to those likely to break the peace?

Mr. STEPHEN

Will the Government take steps to allow the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) to join the Forces?

Mr. MANDER

In view of what has been said, are we to understand that the Government are not going to take any action in this matter?

Sir J. SIMON

I think the answer I first gave to my hon. Friend really covered the point. I referred him to a previous answer he had received.

Mr. MANDER

You said nothing.