Fighting talk over stopping the war

A bitter exchange over ways to end the war erupted at a public meeting in Stirling.

The Observer said the town’s branch of the Independent Labour Party were in favour of ending the conflict through “peace by negotiation”.

ILP members “had it all their own way” at open-air meetings up until then but the paper was of the view a meeting days earlier proved “conclusively” that the public did not share the views of the leftwing group.

The meeting was held in the town’s Corn Exchange Road and addressed by Finlay Watt, Scottish organiser of the British Workers League.

According to the Observer, the league was a patriotic body whose principles were winning the war by complete victory over and punishment of Germany. That was to be followed by a “period of social reconstruction on democratic lines”.

Mr Watt was addressing the crowd when George Morgan of the ILP took exception to his remarks and ignited a lively exchange of views.

“The argument waxed fast and furious as to whether peace by victory or negotiation was the policy of which the British people were in favour.” said the Observer.

“The crowd listened with interest and applauded as the various points were made.”

“Ultimately, the discussion was brought to a close by a show of hands being taken as to which of the two policies the public endorsed and the result was an overwhelming endorsement for the peace by victory stance.”

Following the meeting, a branch of the British Workers League was formed in Stirling with James McLeod, 87 Lower Bridge Street, appointed interim president, and JH Goldsmith, 12 Albany Crescent, interim secretary and treasurer.

League members planned regular Saturday evening open-air meetings but did not intend to “follow the example of the Socialists” and hold Sunday gatherings in King’s Park.

George Morgan of the ILP ignited a lively exchange of views