sO JI .LILTS Jome important decisions Piet Meant te rl A nant tr
The following account has been written especially for the Dulletin by one of the ‘jast l.idlands' delegates to the Conference, .id. Note.
After the Chairman's address and the report of the Standing Orders! Comittee, which was permeated by attempts to place on the agenda an emergency feodlution cundeuming tue wutivnal Goumittee of tne Lavour yrarty for their retusal to endorse the candidature of Ernie Roberts for the Horsham constituency, the first group of resolutions was discussed, namely those concerning the "Commonwe— alth Immigrants! Bill and Racialism."
Composite No.6 was against all forms of control and racialism, this was carried unanimously. Composite No.7 did not entirely reject the Bill and called for more housing control, and this was carried by a small majoiity. For 156, Against 149.
Next came "Party Unity and Signposts for the Sixties." The Party Unity resolution called for delegates to sink their ‘marginal differences' and this was carried by a two to one majority. The resolution supporting "Signposts for the Sixties" was criticised by nearly every speaker and was overwhelmingly defeated.
In. the secret session which followed, an attempt to place on the agenda another emergency resolution this time calling for an inquiry into "Keep Left" and its connections with the S.L.L. was defeated by a small majority. A resolution calling for the democratic control of "New Advance" was carried against the advice of the Y.S. National Committee.
A call for more money on education was unanimously carried and support for Federal Union was overwhelmingly defeated.
The came "Foreign Policy and Defence." The 'multilateralist' resolution was defeated: For 94, Against 199, The 'unilateralist' resolution was carried by a two to one majority. An amendment calling for ‘Gaitskell's resignation was also carried ; For 180, Against 141.
The resolution supporting the United Nations was carried after much discussion,: For 179, Against 61.
Another attempt to place the anti-'Keep Left! resolution on the agenda was this time successful and on a vote it was defeated: For 154, Against 155. On a second count it was carried: For 168, Against 155. This was a great victory for the right wing and they revelled in it.
The Common Market resolutions came next and the pro-Market resolution was defented overwhelmingly with approximately 10 delegates voting for it. The anti-Market resolution was carried also overwhelmingly.
The Ernie Roberts affair was now on the agenda and after a lively discussion a protest resolution was carried by a very large majority despite the efforts of the Y.S. National Organisers.
Last came the Pay Pause resolutions and after an amendment which supported the N..D.C. was defeated, one attacking the Pay Pause was overwhelmi— ngly carried but with a few delegates voting for the Pause as their amendment had been defeated. ;