Evening star., 1932-10-28
Commons to Close Ottawa
Discussions for JobIeSs
Action Friday.
HUNGER ARMY LARGELY
ExONERATED IN RIOTS
Magistrates Find City's Toughs to
Blame for Disturbances-60
to 70 Injured.
BY the Associated Press.

LONDON, October 28-Three days
OF debate on the unemployment problem
will begin in the House Of Commons
next Friday, several days earlier than
had been planned. The House decided
this afternoon to terminate debate on
the Ottawa agreements on Thursday
and to go on with the unemployment
issue.
The hunger marchers," whose ar
rival yesterday precipitated a serious
riot in Hyde Park, paraded the streets
in groups again this morning, but main
ly to collect funds for their mainte-
nance while they remain here. There
was no trouble and their activities were
confined largely to areas near the in
stitutions where they slept last night.
Sir John Gilmour. home secretary,
largely exonerated the marchers from
blame for yesterdays disturbance. In
a report to the House of Commons he
said that the real trouble was not
caused by genuine unemployed but by
London toughs melted by Communist
agents.
Magistrates who dealt with the rioters
arrested yesterday found that nearly
all the men arraigned before them this
morning were Londoners.
Sixty or seventy persons were nursing
injuries in the wake of the riot.
A dozen of the casualties. three OF
them policemen, were seriously hurt in
the furious melees.
The battle was between several
thousand police and many thousands
more of unemployed, who ostensibly
were fighting under red flag that
bore the hammer and sickle Of COM
munism.
The signal for warfare was brick
heaved through post office window
near the park. The missile was thrown
just as 1000 hunger marchers from all
parts of the island marched wear1ly
into the park behind red banners to
the tune of The Red Flag and SINH
lar songs.
Police Club Starts Riot
The policeman nearest the brick
HEAVIER swung club, and before many
minutes passed. pandemonium came.
Completely organized to fight in the
presence of 100 600 persons that jammed
the park. the police charged again and
again. especially along the bride path
west of The marble arch.
Each charge provoked a barrage OF
stones and mud. Even the trees and
ratings in the park were mutilated
by the mob in its desperate effort to
gain the upper hand.
But the police prevailed. and slowly
but surely cleared the area Of the riot
ers, arresting only IA persons during
the whole disturbance.
The press this morning was in the
main ready to credit the marchers with
a desire for peaceful demonstration,
but one conservative paper said the
riot was "Moscow's clenched first
shaken in London's face"
The Morning Express expressed graft
fication that things were not worse. and
press commentators agreed the police
showed great forbearance in a difficult
situation.
Trouble Zones Guarded.
Police maintained their guard in
possible trouble zones, especially in the
vicinity OF the Houses of Parliament:
A non-uniformed guard patrolled the
neighborhood of the home Of Montague
Norman. governor of the Bank OF Eng
land An anonymous telephone call said
a party Of unemployed would attack his
residence during the night. The call
was regarded as q hoax. but neverthe-
less the police set up guard.
Nothing happened until the arrival OF
three taxis filled with young men at
tired mostly in evening clothes. All OF
them were very merry. shouting. We
want to see Prof. Skinner" The police
shooed them away. prof. Skinner was
the name under which Mr.. Norman
visited the United State recently)
Meanwhile, the recruits IN the munger
army, footsore and weary, sought rest
In various centers. Some were billered
in the church army hostel. others in
Tote Club near Communist head
quarters. and still others in the casual
wards for destitute persons. The au-
thorities attended to several stray groups
%ha. lost their way. -,
The interest of the marchers centered
today on neheir petition to Parliament
for q hearing at the Bar Of Commons
The petition reads.
I'VE, unemployed workers, represen-
tative of several thousands who have
marched to London from ~sTious parts
of Great Britain. desire to appear at
the bar of the House of Commo2S to
plead for the redress of grievanceS~f
8 ,00O, 900 of our fellow sufferers through
the land.
I'VE pray that We do have access to
the bar of the House of Commons on
November l to plead our case
A motion must be introduced in the
House of Commons for discussion OF the
petition and a favorable vote obtained.
Political circles considered such vote
| highly unlikely.