As the Party Conference took place, Benito Mussolini invaded Ethiopia, which increased the urgency of the situation, and the "need" to adopt the National Executive Committee's [the chief policy and executive body of the Labour Party] resolution which called upon the National Government to use "all necessary measures provided by the Covenant," and called for sanctions against Italy. [1]
The debate was controversial throughout. It had to be, as it was as much a confict over the Party's conscience as over its policy toward Italian aggression. Hugh Dalton opened the debate on October 1 with a strong speech, asking at one point: "Do we stand firm, or shall we run away?... Who is for running away? We shall count them at the end of this Debate." [2] He concluded his speech with a question:
- Are we going to play the part of a great comrade among nations, or are we going to slink impotently into the shadows; impotent by our own choice; unfaithful to our solemn pledges; not a comrade but a Judas among the nations; deservedly left, as we should be, without a friend in the world; preparing, through our own dishonour, our own sure downfall at no distant date?" [3]
This question was answered by Sir Stafford Cripps, who spoke after Dalton. In his speech, he attempted to shift the emphasis of the debate, saying: "To me, the central factor in our decision must turn not so much upon what we as a country should or should not do, but upon who is in control of our actions." [4] In other words, the Labour Party should not consider for a moment giving arms to the National Government, for they might well use the weapons against the Soviet Union rather than Germany or Italy. [5] The following year, he wrote that:
- it is impossible for us to serve two masters - our own selfish interests as British imperialists and our own desire for peace as wrold citizens. The interests of the British Empire and the world are not identical. [6]
But the real controversy came two days later, on October 3, when Lansbury made the most memorable speech of his life attacking the resolution. He began by saying:
- I want everyone to understand that it is difficult for me to stand here today and publicly repudiate a big fundamental piece of policy. If I were in any doubt about that policy, I am sure that I should not take the line I am taking, but I ask Conference to believe me when I say that I have never been more convinced that I am right, and that the Movement is making a terrible mistake, than I am today. [7]
