Harold Wilson's visit to Hull for a May Day Rally at the City Hall was accompanied by an impressive demonstration of the hostility felt towards American aggression in Vietnam, and tie Labour Government's support for this. For two hours before Mr. Wilson's arrival, whilst crowds were queueing for admission to the hall, and many onlookers gathered to see the Prime Minister, members of the Hull Movement for Colonial Freedom, supported by trade unionists, Young Socialists and ordinary members of the Labour Party, stood in silent demonstration before the entrances to the hall. They ~ carried the now familiar messages on their placards, which demanded a ¢ complete dissociation between British and American policy, and the removal of the Americans from Vietnam. The crowd received a leaflet explaining the facts behind the Vietnam situation (reprinted from The Week)listing the action which has already been taken inside the labour movement in Hull, and calling for more pressure to be brought for a change of Government policy.
Inside the meeting, Harold Wilson's speech was effective and confident until he reached the question of foreign affairs. He was then interrupted by a continuous series of questions and protests relating to Vietnam, by the demonstrators. His replies relied on the wearisomely familiar argument that he was interested in a peaceful solution, not in striking attitudes. He said that it was an easy thing to pass resolutions, "both outside and inside the House of Commons", and when he claimed that the Government's policy had been responsible for the Johnson speech offering so-called “unconditional” acceptance of talks, the protests grew in volume and indignation, and he was cleariy disconcerted. As he left the hall for his car, he raised his hand in expectation of loyal cheers, but received instead the placards, and cries of Vietnam,
It should give us no pleasure to record that a May Day Rally was the occasion for public protest against the Labour Government's foreign policy, but clearly two things emerged. One, that there is a strong growing disquiet which now finds firm and principled expression from within the Labour movement, and two, that Harold ‘ilson has nothing new to say in defence of his present policy. The coupling of Johnson's phoney offer of talks with the British Government's initiative showed how thin the Wilson line has become.