WESTERN UNION

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25551, 20 July 1948, Page 5

WESTERN UNION

Foreign Ministers’ Meeting AGENDA AT THE’ HAGUE (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) ( %£r 8 p m ) LONDON, July 19. The Western Union Foreign Ministers, who are meeting as the Consultative Council created in April under the Brussels Treaty, will study a report by the permanent Western Union military committee, which has been in constant session in London since early in May,” Hague leUter,S correspon dent at The “The committee has been drawing up estimates of what the member nations can accomplish in self-defence by pooling and nationalising their resources. “The Consultative Council will also nave reports on the current talks between the American State Department and representatives of the Western Union and Canada on the possibility of broadening the defensive military toe Western Union into a North Atlantic regional defence scheme in conformity with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. , “The Washington talks have a vital nearing on the German crisis, since it has always been recognised that only tne certainty of American military support would enable the Western adop t a. bold policy in Europe. The agenda includes recommendations for establishing permanent ecotions C ’ Social, and cultura l organisa“A general discussion on the international situation will give any mem- ■ r A an opportunity to raise other subjects. The Netherlands is believed to be anxious to press for the lifting of the present British embargo on arms Apr -Indonesia and for a more exact definition of the military obligations under the Brussels Treaty. “The meeting will last two days.” MR CHURCHILL ON DEATH PENALTY CLASH IN HOUSE WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL

OPPOSITION TO NEW LAW ON HANGING (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) „ _ LONDON, July 18. Mr Churchill strode into the House of Commons with an air of “Malbrouk s’en va-t-en guerre” (Marlborough goes to war) for the debate on the Criminal Justice Bill last week, but he was unable to prevent the Government from pushing through the Cabinet’s compromise plan on hanging. This lays it down that no murderer will hang unless he has killed a prison officer, killed while engaged in house-breaking, robbery, rape, resisting or escaping arrest, or used poison, or if he has been convicted for murder before.

The main battle of the debate was between the Attorney-General (Sir Hartley Shawcross) and. Mr Churchill. Sir Hartley Shawcross, who has always favoured the abolition of hanging, advocated the Government compromise clause, though it meant that his Labour friends would accept less than most of them would like to see. Sir Hartley Shawcross, it was observed, appeared deeply moved. He banged the table dramatically and apologised for his heat.

He leaned oyer and said to Mr Churchill: “No one has a greater regard, respect, and affection for you than I have. I hope you will -allow your real instincts to come into play and not play the game of party politics.’’ Mr Churchill flushed and recalled how the first thoughts of the Government were to make no change in capital punishment. “Then, with what effrontery,” he thundered, “does Sir Hartley Shawcross get up and say when we follow the recommendations of the Home Secretary that we are guilty of playing party politics! Such nonsense,” he added, and his voice could hardly be heard above Tory cheers, “would hardly earn a fee. at the meanest court in this country. Ridiculing the compromise plan, he said: “You can cut your wife’s throat or dash her brains out. If you can arrange the procedure you can set her on fire, push her off a station platform under an approaching train, throw her through a port-hole of a ship or drown her in the bath without being hanged. But you must be careful not to invite more than one confederate to help you or you will lose your immunity.” Such were examples of the absurdities which, on the best legal* advice, the new compromise permitted, he said. He called it i-evdlting and disgusting that such principles should be put to Parliament. It was the price paid to unite the Cabinet and to oring the Socialists together in the lobby. It was a most shameful spectacle.

There was a scene during an exchange between Mr Churchill and Sir Hartley Shawcross. Mr Churchill said: “The whole of this elaborate compromise will have to be explained line by line to murder juries, destroying the ancient simplicity of the questions of fact which have hitherto been put to them.” \

Sir Hartley Shawcross shook his head and said: “No.” Mr Churchill retorted: “That is the view of lawyers whose knowledge is as a pyramid to a molehill compared with yours.” He spoke of Sir Hartley Shawcross .as “preening his legal plumes,” and said: “I would be sorry to take your advice compared with that of those with whom I have talked.”

Amusement was caused when Mr Churchill, warning humanitarians that there was probably not much to choose in cruelty between the death penalty and life imprisonment, remarked that he had heard that hanging was painless. “Try it,” interrupted a Labour member. “Well,” remarked Mr Churchill reflectively in a low voice, “I may come to it,” and the House laughed on both sides. BUDGET FOR FRENCH ARMED FORCES MR SCHUMAN SEEKS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 19. “The Prime Minister of France (Mr Robert Schuman) has demanded that the vote on military credits which the National Assembly will take this afternoon be a vote of confidence in his Government,” says the Paris correspondent of “The Times.” “The negotiations held among the parties during the week-end will probably lead to a favourable vote- for Mr Schuman.” RUSSIAN CLAIM FOR NEW AERO ENGINE LONDON. July 18. The Tass Agency claims that Russia has developed a new “high-powered aviation engine” for which its designer has been given the Stalin Prize and an award of 200,000 roubles. Tass gives no details of the engine, and does not say whether it is a conventional engine or one employing rocket or jet propulsion principles. NEW BOUT PLANNED FOR JOE LOUIS NEW YORK, July 18. The New York Twentieth Century Sporting Club has admitted officially that it is making every effort to persuade Joe Louis not to retire and to fight Gus Lesnevich in defence of the world heavyweight boxing title at the Yankee Stadium, New York, on September 22. Louis has so far not written to the New York Boxing Commission or the National Boxing Association relinquishing his title.