| Main Performers | Sir Stafford Cripps,
Harry Pollitt,
John Strachey MP,
Mr D N Pritt MP
Richard Acland MP,
Professor H J Laski,
Victor Gollancz,
The Liberal Whip - speakers |
| Performance Notes | "The Left Book Club held a rally at the Albert Hall yesterday afternoon, when speeches were made in defence of liberty and democracy, and appeals were made on behalf of a 'united front.' Mr Victor Gallanz presided. The Club was formed about eight months ago. Branches have been formed in the British Empire and in Continental countries. Messages wishing the movement success were read at the rally by the Chairman from Mr [Clement] Attlee, leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, the International Column in Spain, the president of the Indian National Congress, Radical Deputies of the French Parliament, and from a number of groups of the club overseas.
The Chairman said that the club was founded not merely to fight Fascism, though its aims were the very antithesis of it. They were in favour of the 'United Front', but it was not true to say that that was the policy of the club. What they were doing was to create the basis without which a true 'Popular Front was impossible.
Mr John Strachey said that the meeting represented a body of not fewer than 40,000 people throughout the country. They had only to achieve unity to be overwhelmingly strong not only in Britain but in the world. Fascism might seem to be strong, but it was not strong: it was only desperate. It was the forces of progress in the world which were strong and the forces of democracy."
(The Times, 8 February 1937) |
| Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/1937/12) |