People's Convention Notes No. 2

11, [1] pages.

Paper wrapper split and detached due to tears to centre-fold. All pages age-toned and somewhat brittle. Text clean.

Contents include: Questions and answers concerning the military campaign in Libya; Text of a speech by Sir Roger Keyes M. P., to the House of Commons, concerning the reticence of elements in Whitehall to take offensive action against the Nazis; Anglo-Soviet Unity etc.

The People's Convention was a conference that was proposed and promoted by the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1940–1941. Its advocates attempted to persuade Labour Party and trade union members that the then British government was solely for the rich, and was dominated by those who had adopted a policy of appeasement towards the Nazi regime.

The Convention was the initiative of the Hammersmith Trades Council and Labour Party and Denis Nowell Pritt, Member of Parliament for North Hammersmith, who had both been expelled from the Labour Party in 1940. It was backed by leading members of the CPGB and many of the founder members were members of the People's Vigilance Committee, which had been formed by communists expelled from the Labour Party. It was inaugurated at a meeting in London in January 1941 with over 2,200 delegates. The Convention was vigorously opposed by the Labour Party and the Trades Union Congress and the BBC refused to employ supporters of the Convention. Eventually it was disowned by the Communist Party of Great Britain itself in January 1942.

Rare.

Postage will be less than the average cost quoted in my store listings. Over-payments will be refunded.