Record

Performance Title	Trade Defence Union (Against Soviet Economic War) - Slavery in Russia Inaugural Mass Meeting
Performance Date	6 March 1931
Performance Day	Friday
Performance Time	20:00
Main Performers	Rt. Hon. Viscount Brentford, Rt. Hon. Sir Hilton Young, Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill - speakers
Secondary Performers	Rev. Thomas Nightingale, Rev. Arthur F Day, Evan Boyd-Morrison - vocal, Henry E Wilson - organ
Set List	'Land of Hope and Glory' (Evan Boyd-Morrison), 'God Save the King' (The National Anthem)
Performance Notes	"TUMUILT IN ALBERT HALL Fireworks Thrown From Gallery - Soviet Cruelties - Nameless Russian Speaks at Demonstration. Pandemonium broke out in the Albert Hall last night the moment Viscount Brentford rose to speak at the Trade Defence Union demonstration of protest against 'brutalism' in Russian prison camps. A crowd of men yelled 'Long live the Soviet.' Hundreds of stewards swooped upon the interrupters and a free fight took place. Fireworks were thrown from the gallery into the body of the hall. The uproar continued until the interrupters were thrown into the street. A threat had been made to plunge the hall into darkness, but elaborate precautions were taken to prevent this. SOVIET CRUELTIES Viscount Brentford said 'There is no more tragic story in the whold of history than the story of Russia at the present time. The cruelties under the Czar are as nothing to the cruelties and barbarities that are taking place in Russia today.' Sir Hilton Young MP moved a resolution protesting against Russia's economic war on the world and expressing indignation that the British Government had taken no steps to exclude Russian imports from this country; also calling upon the Government to terminate the most favoured nation treatment to Russian goods. One of the speakers was a nameless Russian farmer who described his experiences as a political prisoner. 'If my name were known,' he said, 'my wife might be traced by secret police and made to suffer because I have spoken to you.' Free fights again broke out when Mr Winston Churchill rose to second the resolution and more men and women were ejected. The resolution was carried amid cheers and some booing." (Dundee Courier 7 March 1931)
Related Archival Material	Programme (RAHE/1/1931/23)
URL	https://thirdlight.royalalberthall.com/pf.tlx/787lIi7lymhPX

Catalogue

Reference Number	Title	Date
RAHE/1/1931/23	Trade Defence Union (Against Soviet Economic War) Inaugural Mass Meeting	6 March 1931

Work

Ref No	Title	No of Performances
Orog_Xibipoir	Trade Defence Union (Against Soviet Economic War) - Slavery in Russia Inaugural Mass Meeting	1

Performers

Code	Name of Performer(s)
DS/UK/2026	Joynson-Hicks; Sir; William (1865-1932); 1st Viscount Brentford; British Conservative politician
DS/UK/2027	Young; Lord; Edward Hilton (1879-1960); 1st Baron Kennet, GBE, PC; British politician, writer
DS/UK/2028	Churchill; Sir; Winston (30 November 1874-24 January 1965); KG OM CH TD DL FRS RA; British politician, army officer, and writer

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