OPPOSITION CRITICS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 154, 26 March 1938, Page 11

OPPOSITION CRITICS

Positive Action Urged By Mr. Attlee GRAVITY OF SITUATION By Telegraph. —Press Assn.—Copyright. London, March 24. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. C. R. At lee, commenting in the House of Commons on the foreign policy statement, said that Mr. Chamberlain did not seem to realise the gravity of the situation and the need for positive and not mere negative action for peace. Mr. Chamberlain’s policy at best meant only a postponement of war. He had left Britain and the world in the same situation as in 1914. K Mr. Attlee expressed amazement at Mr. Chamberlain’s credulity and asked why he placed reliance on the assurances of Signor Mussolini, who was still intervening in Spain. The Government had not attempted to make the League of Nations work. The Labour Party stood by the League Covenant. Mr. Chamberlain’s one idea seemed to be to pile up arms. The country needed- a positive policy for peace and the tackling of the economic causes underlying • world unrest. The Leader of the Opposition Liberal Party, Sir Archibald Sinclair, declared that it should be made clear to Herr Hitler that if Czechoslovakia was the victim of unprovoked aggression and France fulfilled her pledges to Czechoslovakia, as undoubtedly she would, Britain would support France. Mr. Churchill’s View. Mr. Winston Churchill (Conservative, Epping) described Mr. Chamberlain’s speech as a .very fine one, setting out how to prevent war. “Our arrangements with France for mutual defence evidently amount to a defensive alliance,” he said. “Why not say so? Why not have a plan worked out and precisely proclaim it? Then you will have a great deterrent against aggression.” Mr. Churchill expressed the opinion that Mr. Chamberlain had gone a long way toward making a commitment in regard to Czechoslovakia. He was thankful for that, but suggested that a bold course might be safer. He advocated a limited pledge that Britain would act with France if Germany marched against Czechoslovakia. "If we don’t stand up against the dictators now we shall have to stand up against them in more adverse circumstances,” he declared. Sir John Simon in Reply. Members on the back benches continued a rambling discussion until the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Simon, Wound up the debate earlier than was expected, saying that the Prime Minister had good reason to be satisfied with the reception of his speech. Mr. Chamberlain’s answer on the issue whether Britain should now. in advance, give a further contractual assurance of military action, specifically in relation to Czechoslovakia, was that Britain could not give that prior guarante*. “That declaration.” said Sir John, “is clear and unambiguous. One of Britain’s greatest assets is her reputation for keeping her word. We must not give it unless we can -be sure it will be kept.” Sir John Simon criticised Mr. Winston Churchill’s proposal as aspiring to a grand alliance or an open defensive alliance with certain Powers. These ideas were contrary to the conception behind the League of Nations. Feature of the Speech. The Australian Associated Press says that what was regarded in the lobbies as Mr. Chamberlain’s “outspoken commitment” concerning Britain’s position in Europe was a feature of his declaration, in which members saw neither adherence to binding commitments in Europe nor to isolation, but a grave warning that the international situation is such that if war comes it may be impossible for the Empire to keep out Whatever may be the effect abroad, the declaration at present has satisfied critics within the ranks of the Government who were pressing for a stronger attitude in Europe. Mr. Chamberlain met the few dissentients in Cabinet by agreeing to a firmer course in Central Europe. Simultaneously he consoled the Winston Churchill group, and when members of the Opposition found that Mr. Churchill had deserted them they knew that the chances of a Parliamentary crisis had vanished, at least for the moment. Mr. Chamberlain Cheered. Members of the Commons flocked to the House this morning to claim seats from which to hear the anxiouslyawaited declarationf by the Prime Minister. Neither the floor nor the galleries of the House were adequate to the demand for accommodation. The Dominion High Commissioners and other distinguished Dominion representatives occupied the Dominions’ Gallery, while Ambassadors and Ministers from almost every foreign country filled the gallery of the Diplomatic Corps. Neither Italy nor Germany was officially represented. Not for years have such scenes been witnessed. The floor of the House was so crowded that many members sat in the galleries. On entering, Mr. Chamberlain was loudly cheered.