The decision of the National Executive of the British Labour Party to readmit Mr. Aneurin Bevan, M.P. for Monmouth, Ebbw Vale division, into the ranks of the party marks the return of one of its prodigal sons, though in this connection it needs to be pointed out that, while the gentleman in question receives reinstatement, there is nothing in the nature of a fatted calf prepared for his regalement. It will be remembered that Mr. Bevan, rebelled at the same time as Sir Stafford Cripps, asso-clating himself with the latter in an endeavour to form a United Front, which was wholly contrary to the policy of the Labour Party. Sir Stafford Cripps was duly heard in his own defence when the possibilities of his opposition to the official policy of the party can generally to be recognized, and though he made a most spirited address, the doctrine that there must be no differences as to policy within the ranks of the Labour Party led to the decision to expel him. Mr. Bevan went with him, and now, having given an undertaking to refrain from conducting campaigns against the declared policy of the Labour Party he is readmitted to membership. The interesting point of the whole matter is that the National Executive of the Labour Party is just as dictatorial as leaders in other countries to whose policies they are opposed, and it has made it quite plain that there can be no difference of opinion within the ranks of the Party, and that members must either accept the dictates of the National Executive or run the risk of expulsion. Sir Stafford Cripps has manfully stood by his guns and the right to freedom of speech, but that has resulted in sending him into outer darkness, where possibly he prefers to be, rather than continue subject to a form of dictation, which if it existed elsewhere in British polities might very well have led to the extinction of the Labour Party as an element of opposition to the Government long before this. The Labour Party is a strong supporter of that form of democracy which permits it to exist as a political entity, but that the same freedom which it enjoys should be extended to its members is something which the National Executive cannot tolerate,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.