SECRET DEBATE ON SHIPPING

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23361, 21 June 1941, Page 9

SECRET DEBATE ON SHIPPING

CHURCHILL TO MAKE STATEMENT

“SERIOUSNESS HAS NOT REMOVED ”

(8.0. W.) RUGBY, June 19. In announcing that a debate on shipping would take place on the next sitting day of the House of Commons, the Prime Minister (Mr Churchill) said that he had come to the conclusion that such a debate should be in private session.

“I think,” he continued, “that there might be a serious danger to the public interest if the matter were discussed in public. If the debate is in secret session l , I hope to be able to make a statement to the House, but I certainly will not attempt to do so in public. Ido not think that I would do justice to the subject, every part of which is interrelated. I must remind the -House that the battle of the Atlantic is a continuous operation, which is going, on day by day, and its seriousness has not been by any means removed by anything that has occurred as the year has advanced.” Mr E. Shin well (Labour) strongly pressed Mr Churchill to reconsider this decision. After referring to the “alarming statements” recently _ made by responsible statesmen, Mr Shinwell said that members would exercise the utmost discretion in the debate and use it to assist the Government and remove disquiet in the public mind. Mr Churchill replied that he must ask the House to be advised by the Government in this matter. They would go into great detail when they were together privately. It would he a great pity if they should be forced to conduct discussions on .these most grave matters with the enemy listening, and every word reaching him. Quite soon, statements could ana would be made by the Government They could have a debate to see what conclusions were arrived at among themselves, and perhaps afterwards some statement could be made in public.

BATTLE OF ATLANTIC

PROCEDURE AT CONVOY CONFERENCE (8.0. W.) RUGBY, June 19. Conferences vital to the Battle. of the Atlantic are day by day taking place between senior naval officers ana the masters of merchant ships. A description of one of these “convoy conferences” is given by a naval eyeWi, The S Navy and the Merchant Navy are sitting in conference to discuss problems of the Battle of the Atlantic, he says. “The men, in civilian suits are the masters of those merchant ships, cargo liners, or rusty old tramp steataers who run the gauntlet of Üboats and Nazi aeroplanes to feed Britain and supply the war machine. “A senior officer of the Naval Control Service rises .and explains points contained in the. sheets of sailing orders, instructions, and other secret documents which each Merchant Navy captain has before him. The men in civilian clothes listen carefully. The senior naval control officer calls upon the Royal Naval Reserve officer who is to be commodore of this convoy to address the men who will look, to him for guidance throughout the perilous voyage. He will sail in the senior ship of the convoy. . J . . “The Commodore rises and explains to these Merchant Navy masters what he wishes them to do and what action he proposes to take in the event of the various emergencies which may arise on 'the voyage. More questions are asked and answered. Then the senior officer of the warships which will escort the convoy tells the men whose ships he is to protect exactly what experience has taught him about the best way to co-operate in beating the U-boat and the war aeroplane. He is, followed by a captain whose interest is in the defensive guns with which the merchant ships have been fitted. _ “Then an officer of the Royal Air Force explains the air protection which his service affords the convoys, and how best to cope with German-aero-planes out in the Atlantic from the air fighter’s point of view. The men of the Merchant Navy make observations and' ask questions. Finally, the captain presiding over the donvoy conference rises to introduce the Commander-in~ Chief and Admiral, who has found time from the unceasing work of directing the Battle of the Atlantic to come and explain the position as he sees it. So ends the convoy conference. The Merchant Navy captams return to their ships to prepare fo* sailing, and another great adventure is .under way.”

Chairman of Automatic Gun Board. —Sir Peter Bennet, M.P., has been apgointed chairman of the Automatic un Board, which co-ordinates; production for and on behalf of all the Ministers concerned. He has resigned from the position of Director-General of the Emergency Service Organisation of the Ministry of Aircraft Production.— Rugby, June 19.