ON WAR FOOTING

Evening Star, Issue 25948, 13 November 1946, Page 7

ON WAR FOOTING

RUSSIAN ARMIES IN EUROPE MR CHURCHILL AGAIN POINTS FINGER AT SOVIET (Rec. noon.) LONDON, Nov. 12. Mr Churchill, speaking in the House of Commons debate on the Address-in-Reply to the King’s Speech, emphasised that the British and American forces in Europe had < melted away, as was inevitable in . the case of Governments which rested on the people’s will; Meanwhile the Russian armies, which were based on the despotic form of Government, had been maintained in Europe in vast strength and on a war footing. More than onethird of .Europe was held under Russian' control. The Soviet military frontier was on the Elbe, and it was impossible to forecast what the future and fate of France would Be. No fruition had as yet attended the peace negotiations, even regarding the .smaller satellite enemy Powers. “The United Nations have so far not fulfilled our hopes. .Nevertheless the" Opposition still remains unanimous with the Government in support of the United Nations,” he said. The Foreign Secretary had done his_ best, and the Opposition had given him all possible support in-events which “ caused him embarrassment in other quarters.” ;Mr Churchill continued: “Germany is- prostrate and shattered. We and the Americans at almost unbearable cost to ; ourselves, continue to administer and rally the German people. “ The proper course Is to make the Germans earn their own living and manage their own affairs as sobn as possible, and give them all possible aid while preventing any form pf rearmament. There must be an end to vengeance and retribution.” , EMPIRE PREFERENCE. Mr Churchill asked •Mr Attlee to state whether he could renew the assurances made at the* time of the American loan that Britain was entirely free’from'any commitment prejudicial to Imperial preference. He would be surprised if the Republican Congress were to embrace free trade, and permit such a casting down of tariff walls as to call into discussion the comparatively modest preference duties built up in the British Commonwealth, which were more important to the Commonwealth as a symbol of .indissoluble association than a commercial advantage. . PALESTINE. Turning to Palestine, Mr Churchill said: ‘I It is impossible to avoid expressing! deep regret at the needless disappointment- .created throughout world Jbwry over the failure of the I Socialist; Party to fulfil the promises | made at the General Elections.” He added that there was lack of any polioy worthy of ra name. Its absence had allowed havoc and hatred to run riot in Palestine for more! than a year. “If we cannot fulfil oiir promise to the Zionists we should without delay place our mandate for Palestine at the feet of the United Nations and give! due notice of our impending evacuation!” ' \ ; If the United States' deprecated such; <a. step ;it would be for them to help us, not only with money, hut also men. If. the . suggestion were adopted it 1 would relieve Britain of “ the most thankless of all human tasks.” ■ ■ 'Mr. Churchill gave notice that the Opposition might find it necessary before Christmas; to ask for a formal debate on India “ on account of the increasing degeneration in the life of the Indian people.” He added that to abandon India and have a war.against Jews in orper to give Palestine to the Arabs amidst a world of execration appeared to carry incongruity of thought an,d action to an extent rarely attained in human history. , Mr Churchill accused the Government of responsibility for conditions being actually worse in many directions than during the war years: “ The food position in the first 'year of peace is worse thtin in the-last year of war," he said. , ! MR ATTLEE IN REPLY. Mr Attlee, following Mr Churchill, repeated the assurance he gave last year that there -would be no unilateral surrender of Imperial preferences. He regretted the statements Mr Churchill had made regarding Palestine. “Nobody knows better than he that there has been no wobbling in this matter,” he said. “We have been pursuing a policy in accordance with the mandate. We are bound by the mandate to have regard both to the; positions of the Arabs and' tlie JevYs, and we are still striving earnestly for the co-operation of the United States, I think it would be very ill-advised for anyone to say anything that would, exacerbate the position in Palestine.” He added: “We are in the grip of a world food shortage, and food conditions arfi more difficult for Britain how than during the war. However, broadly speaking, the mass of the people are better fed than in peace time under the Conservative Government.” Outlining the Government’s defence proposals, Mr . Attlee said the development of .modern warfare ffiade Britain more vulnerable. She was now a part of the Continent, and unlikely to enjoy a breathing space in the eveut of another war. She must have trained reserves, who could participate immediately without six months’ training. The worid at present was not making as quick progress towards an ordered society as ho could have hoped, and the Government could not take risks with the safety of the country.