| Main Performers | Lord Cecil,
Mr Walter Citrine,
Lord Home,
Dr F W Norwood,
Mrs Corbett Ashby,
Mr W J Williams (a working man),
Mrs Pavitt (a working woman)
Archbishop of Canterbury (Chair) - speakers |
| Set List | Results of Peace Ballot (Lord Cecil) |
| Performance Notes | At the meeting the results of an unofficial referendum, the Peace Ballot (official title - the National Declaration on the League of Nations and Armaments), organised by the League of Nation's Union were announced and a Resolution passed. The Peace Ballot posed six questions on the theme of disarmament and collective security which were answered by 11,640,066 adult Britons (38.2% of the population). 500,000 volunteers posted ballot sheets to households over Britain with questions based on the text of the Covenant of the League between November 1934 and June 1935. Its object was to show the support for a vigorous and successful Peace policy through the League of Nations. It was probably the the most impressive single enterprise launched by any modern British 'cause'.
The five questions posed by the Peace Ballot and the Yes votes for them were:
1. Should Britain remain a member of the League of Nations? (Over 90 per cent said Yes)
2. Are you in favour of an all-round reduction of armaments by international agreement? (Over 90 per cent said Yes)
3. Are you in favour of the all-round abolition of national military and naval aircraft by international agreement? (80 per cent said Yes)
4. Should the manufacture and sale of armaments for private profit be prohibited by international agreement? (Over 90 per cent said Yes)
5. Do you consider that, if a nation insists on attacking another, the other nations should combine to compel it to stop, by
a) economic and non-military measures? (Over 90 per cent said Yes)
b) if necessary, military measures? (70 per cent said Yes)
Following the meeting Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, accompanied by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for League of Nations Affairs, received a deputation on 23 July 1935 from the National Declaration Conference to present the results of the Peace Ballot and the Resolution passed at the meeting held at the Hall.
"The Peace Ballot [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
Sir, On Thursday, June 27th, at the Royal Albert Hall, London, we are to learn the final figures in the Ballot on the League of Nations and Armaments that has been in progress during the past nine months. Thanks to the help of five hundred thousand volunteers, well over ten million votes have already been recorded in favour of League principles and the collective system of ensuring Peace. Many tons of ballot forms have had to be issued from the head office in London. It has come to my notice that, thanks to the many donors of sums ranging from a shilling to a thousand pounds, the whole expenditure that has had to be incurred at headquarters has now been met save for £468. There will be many of your readers, I feel sure, who share with me the hope that when Lord Cecil announces the final results, he may also be in a position to state that the balance now outstanding has been cleared. Those wishing to con-tribute, however small the sum, should write without delay direct to Lord Cecil at 16 South Eaton Place, London, S.W.1. They will have the satisfaction of participating in the carrying through of a great piece of work to a triumphant conclusion.- Yours truly, Little House, D'Oyley Street, S.W.1. PHILIP GIBBS."
(The Spectator, 20 June 1935)
"The final figures of the peace ballot were announced at a meeting held in the Albert Hall under the chairmanship of Lord Cecil. An audience which filled the hall in every part cheered enthusiastically the announcement that nearly 12,000,000 votes had been recorded, with large affirmative majorities on every question."
(The Times, 28 June 1935 - part of a longer article) |
| Related Archival Material | Photograph (RAHE/3/1935/2) |