BRITAIN'S DEFENCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 196, 1 June 1938, Page 5

BRITAIN'S DEFENCE

“ SURPRISES FOR ATTACKERS.”

USE OF NEW DISCOVERIES.

A HINT OF CONSCRIPTION

(United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, May 31.

Labour members were alarmed in the House of Commons when the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence (Sir Thomas Inskip) said that in the event of war there was certain to be a competent authority to allocate a suitable position to each individual. Nobody, he said, could escape from it by choosing an attractive position in peace-time, for instance, as territorials or air-raid wardens.

Mr J. C. Ede (Labour, South Shields) interpreted this as meaning that legislative machinery had already been devised for conscription. Other Labour members demanded to know whether the plans included the conscription of labour and wealth. Sir Thomas Inskip emphasised that the plans would be subject to submission to the House at the proper time. Labour speakers urged that the plans should be produced in the House immediately, and demanded an opportunity for a full discussion.

The debate automatically ended at 11.30 p.m. Sir Thomas Inskip, in a broadcast on the same subject, said: “Joint plans have been prepared by the Navy and Royal Air Force for every emergency, to' provide complete protection for our trade.

“Some of our greatest scientists,” he said, “are helping in the task of «ir defence. Some of the latest discoveries are already coming into use. An enemy may expect to encounter some formidable, and perhaps unexpected, forms of defence.”

The political correspondent of the Australian Associated Press states that conscription will be submitted to Parliament for instant introduction immediately war occurs. This is the actual meaning of Sir Thomas Inskip’s statement.- The suddenness and unexpectedness of the statement, occurring in a minor debate, when only 50 members of the House were in the Chamber, caused exaggerated surprise, which was stilus lated by Labour members’ attempts to seek political capital. Apart from the circumstances in which it was made, the statement contained nothing new. It did not go beyond Mr Chamberlain’s earlier declarations, nor does it alter the Government’s unequivocal assurances that conscription will not be introduced in peace time. NO CONSCRIPTION ACT EXISTS. REFUSAL OF A WHITE PAPER. (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 31. Arising out of Sir Thomas Inskip’s reference to conscription in his speech last night, Mr Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, refused Mr C. R. Attlee’s request that he publish a White Paper setting out the measures contemplated for wartime service. Mr Chamberlain said the plans would be presented to Parliament if and when the occasion arose. He denied that Sir Thomas Inskip had, stated that a Conscription Act was in existence.

Mr Wedgwood Renn quoted from Hansard that Mr Chamberlain had said the position would be cleared up later if opportunity arose.