The 1965 Easter March demonstrated conclusively that C.N.D. had emerged from the doldrums of the last few years and was a going concern again. The task. of the C.N.D. Ammual Conference (London, June 5-7th) must be to consolidate the gains and te deepen a strategy that makes sense and awakens a feeling of urgency in the Britain of the late 1960's.
Vietnam, as would be expected, is given great prominence in the resolutions for conference. Perhaps the most comprehensive resolution on this subject comes from Brentford and Chiswick C.N.D., which presents the conference with five demands to campaign around: an immediate stop to the bombing raids on.North Vietnam; a cease-fire in South Vietnam; negotiations between the 0.5.4. and the Vietcong; withdrawal of American troops; and free elections in Vietnam,
This conference could be a vital one for C.N.D. as regards its future organisation, Two proposals have been circulated regarding membership of C.N.D. The first calls for the establishment of «a formal membership; sponsors who will pay a minimum subscription of £3 a year direct ito the national campaign, and who will have the right to vote, associates who pay A minimum subscription of £1 a year to their local groups, and supporters. Groups who wish to qualify for representation at conference would have to have paid £12 to the national campaign in the previous calendar year.
This proposal is supported by some notes from Alec Leaver. His basic arguments are that this move would put the campaign on a firm financial footing, would more fully commit individuals and link them with the national campaign and would provide the campaign with a more accurate picture of its strengths
The second proposal is far shorter and, in fact, merely formalises the present situation:
"Annual Conference considers that a C.N.D. group should be allowed to enroll supporters in whatever way seems most appropriate and will itself decided the minimum annual contribution to be required from each; the group to retain the whole of the income thus obtained,...."
Notes in favour of the second proposal were provided by Hosalind Delmar. She argues that it must be proved that it is easier to raise money from members than supporters and that income from membership could financi- | ally support the campaign. She is uneasy about the formalised membership as this could lead to expulsions from 0.N.D. and the acceptance by all of one set of principles for the campaign, with consequent lack of flexibility. The adoption of formal membership laid the campaign open to the possibility of proscription.