MR. HUGHES'S BOOK

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 112, 7 November 1935, Page 9

MR. HUGHES'S BOOK

OBJECT EXPLAINED

DANGER TO AUSTRALIA

POWER OF THE .LEAGUE

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. CANBERRA, November 6. The resignation of Mr. W. M. Hughes, Federal Minister of Health, was handed to. the Prime Minister today.

Later, when the House met, the Prime Minister • (Mr. J. A. Lyons) attempted' to make ■ a statement, but when Labour members objected and the Speaker refused leave, considerable "disorder followed. Mr. Lyons, greatly angered, resumed his seat, and the debate on the Sanctions Bill was taken up. ' Mr. Hughes thus obtained his chance to explain his attitude. He intimated that he intended to support the measure now and had proposed to support it when the debate commenced. He quoted lengthily from his book, "Australia and the War Today," and claimed that the book was written, chiefly with the, object^of arousing Australians to a realisation of the danger in"" which the country stood. He denied that his attitude in regard to the League was incompatible with that of the Government. The lesson he sought to drive home was that it would be most dangerous to rest calmly in the belief that the League could always preserve peace. He was prepared to stand or fall by that statement. "Surely," he added, "it is a pious hope to expect that Signor Mussolini will be turned from his path by a mere gesture." Mr. J. Curtin, Leader of the Opposition, contended that Mr. Hughes had been unfairly treated. His attitude was that of any other thinking person— namely, that an economic blockade, to be effective, must .be backed by force, which would inevitably lead to war. Mr. Lyons tabled the correspondence between himself and Mr. Hughes, and the debate on a motion for printing this correspondence was adjourned.