| Description | Papers relating to nuclear disarmament and peace campaigns organised by the Birmingham Peace Committee and other anti-nuclear and peace groups in the Birmingham area during the early 1960s, including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament [CND], together with papers concerning the '2nd Midlands Conference for Peace' which took place in Birmingham in March 1961. The Indian Workers Association gave financial support to the Midlands Conference for Peace, and it appears that Jagmohan Joshi and Avtar Jouhl were involved with the Birmingham Peace Committee, but also took part in CND marches during this period. The Birmingham Peace Committee was the local branch of the British Peace Committee.
Papers consist of:
/1-/3 circular letters issued by Birmingham Peace Committee and Birmingham Youth Peace Campaign with details about a summit conference on disarmament held in Paris in May 1960 between the leaders of the 'four Great Powers', presumably America, the Soviet Union, Britain and France, and a summit rally to be held in Birmingham to mark this event and press for agreement at the summit on definite disarmament measures; Newsletter of Birmingham Peace Committee June 1960 which focuses on the failure of the Summit Conference and gives information about future campaign activities to press for disarmament, including a public discussion entitled 'Which Way For Peace', to be held at the Arden Hotel in Birmingham, 23 June 1960
/4-/5 circular letter issued by Colin Yardley, secretary of Birmingham Peace Committee asking for the support of individuals and organisations in a campaign against the presence of US forces and air bases in Britain, together with a blank petition sheet, July 1960
/6 Birmingham Peace Committee Newsletter August 1960, including details about an Edinburgh to London march organised by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament to protest against nuclear weapons, US air bases, and NATO's nuclear strategy
/7 flyer issued by the Youth Peace Campaign, giving details about events organised to mark the passing of the Edinburgh to London marchers on their way through Birmingham, 16-17 September 1960
/8 circular letter issued by the Midlands Clause Four Campaign Committee with details of an All-Midlands Nationalisation Conference September 1960
/9 circular leaflet issued by Birmingham Peace Committee giving details about a demonstration organised to protest at the visit of NATO supreme commander Norstad to Coventry. The demonstration was organised by the Labour Party; Trades Council; Victory for Socialism; Peace Council and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, 12 October 1960
/10-/14 papers relating to the '2nd Midlands Conference for Peace' in March 1961, including circular letter issued to publicise the forthcoming recall of the conference; flyer issued by the conference preparatory committee inviting delegates and giving details of sponsoring organisations including the Birmingham branch of the Indian Workers Association, and of participating speakers; draft policy statement issued at the conference; introduction and statement of aims of the conference; report on the conference, with details of sponsors, delegates, proceedings, resolutions passed, finances and publicity.
/15-/16 letters to Avtar Jouhl from Colin Yardley of the Birmingham Peace Committee on behalf of the Conference for Peace Preparatory Committee, discussing his involvement in the conference and general council meetings March and July 1961
/17-/18 flyers and leaflets containing information and advice for marchers taking part in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Easter March from Aldermaston and Wethersfield to London in 1961
/19 Birmingham Peace Committee Newsletter May 1961, including information about the forthcoming British Peace Committee General Council meeting which was held in Birmingham 2 July 1961
/20 letter from the treasurer of the Midlands Conference for Peace asking the Indian Workers Association for payment for copies of Bertrand Russell's pamphlet 'Win We Must', May 1961
/21-/22 papers concerning a Midlands Youth Day for Peace to be held in Birmingham 1 July 1961, following a decision taken at the 2nd Midlands Conference for Peace. These include a letter to Avtar Jouhl from Zsuzsa Yardley giving details about the event, and asking whether the Indian Workers Association cultural group that performs Indian dances and songs would take part in an international cabaret to be held at the Youth Day, May 1961
/23-/24 draft Resolution to be submitted to the General Council Meeting of the British Peace Committee 2 July 1961; report on the finance and constitution of the British Peace Committee, of which the Birmingham Peace Committee was a regional branch
/25 circular letter issued by Birmingham Youth Peace Campaign with a press statement issued as part of its campaign of opposition to the arrival of German troops for training in Wales, 22 August 1961. Handwritten notes on the reverse of this letter apparently consist of statements drafted following a meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the Indian Workers Association.
/26 undated leaflet issued by Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament to highlight what happened at Hiroshima, and urging people to join the organisation
/27 undated flyer issued by the West Midlands Committee of 100 focusing on regional seats of government [RSGs] to be used in the event of nuclear war and giving details of a march to RSG 9 near Kidderminster |
| AdminHistory | The British Peace Committee was formed shortly after the end of the Second World War in 1945. It was a forerunner of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament [CND], but was organised through the Communist Party and focused its campaigns around the issue of American bases in Britain, German rearmament, and the need for diplomatic agreements between the superpowers. It supported multilateral disarmament, and boycotted the first Aldermaston marches organised by CND in 1957 and 1958. After 1960, the organisation's objectives became more similar to those of CND. |