BRITAIN'S POSITION

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 140, 10 December 1931, Page 9

BRITAIN'S POSITION

DEBATE IN COMMONS

MOTION OF CENSURE

(British Official Wireless.)

(Keccived 10th December, 11 a.m.)

KUGBY, 9th December. A motion of censure on tho Government was moved in tho House of_ Commons to-day by the former SolicitorGeneral, Sir Stafford _ Cripps. The speech covered a wide field. The Labour motion of censure regretted failure of the Government to deal with the problems of currency and exchango and the development of international trade and to produce plans for unemployment and liigli rents to meet the case. Sir Stafford Cripps said that the return of the National Government to power had not restored confidence. There was a continued uncertainty, because apparently the Government had no care other than to tinker with the problem which was an international one. He advocated barter through import and export boards, pending the exploration of tho currency situation, and accused the Government of failing to provide for distress in the coming winter duo to unemployment and economy cuts, j MACDONALD'S REPLY, i The Prime Minister, Mr. MacDonuld, replying, said that the declaration of tho Government's intentions with regard to currency stabilisation, while tho present uncertain conditions prevailed, would be far from serving the purpose of restoring confidence. He dre.. attention to tho international causes of the difficulties, with which Britain was faced. British trade was suffering becauso of world poverty. The only enlightened policy was to seek to increase the volume of world trade, and that tho Government would continue to do. They regretted the delay in bringing the nations into conference on these problems, but they were sure that the exports now sitting at Basle were fully awaro of the urgency of their task and would prepare their report with expedition. Immediately after that a conference of Governments should be held, and Hie British Government's view was (hat this confereuco should approach its work in the spirit of realism, examining' the whole facts and aiming at an agreement; which would not merely tido

lover the difficulties temporarily, but ; would set the whole world on a. gradu- | ally increasing economic, social, and j political footing of hopeful effort and ! endeavour. This could be done only I by tlic consciousness on tho part of all '; nations that whatever their own cirMiuiiistanees, their own prosperity dojpcmk'd on tho prosperity and tranquility of the whole world. It was in that spirit that tho British Government would enter the conference. SWIFT IN ACTION. Mr. Mac Donald claimed that the Government had been remarkably swift in fiction. They had made essential contributions to the country's problems by I balancing the Budget; also they bad I dealt with abnormal importations which | were imposing a hcav burden on sterIling exchange, and they had pursued a policy of maintaining tho domestic value of sterling also. Kef erring to rents tho Prime Minister said that they had some evidence !of tlio unfair raising of rents, and lie ; forecasted legislation which would give ! protection in these cases. : The Government, ho said, had been | given a mandate to seek to revive ! world trade and to secure Britain's just i share in it, using every resourco at hand : and that mandate they were carrying : out. j The debate continues. I It is believed that the measures to j meet the economic situation which have been taken by the Government and are in contemplation will dominate the de- | bate, which will last till Thursday ! night. I The chief interest in tho debate is : concentrated on the attitude of the ■ tariff reform group of the Conservative 'Party, whe are pressing for immediate ! protective duties on iron and steel. j The Government's attitude towards this demand will be stated by the ; president of the Board of Trade, Mr. i Walter fiuncimaii, when he winds up !1 ho debate on Thursday.