NOT ENOUGH YET

Grey River Argus, 6 December 1940, Page 4

NOT ENOUGH YET

BRITAIN'S WAR EFFORT Complaints in Commons TIME TO DECLARE AIMS RUGBY, December 4. The House of Commons, resuming the Address-in-Reply debate, heard a series of speeches from backbenchers, almost all devoted to urging the Government to take more drastic action in mobilising the entire resources of the country for victory. Lord Winterton expressed disappointment in what he considered the failure of the Government spokesman, to give a convincing answer to the criticisms voiced earlier in the debate. There was a general desire, he said, to see Britain taka the offensive in the field,, but the real offensive must first take place in tr.e factories and shipyards. Lord Winterton also the vital importance of harnessing the resources of' supplies for the Middle East campaigns. At Home, he advocated compulsory measures for the control of resources and the transference and training of man-power. Mr Seymour Hicks (Labour) agreed that on the Home'front they must strip to the waist for victory. He echoed the demand frequently heard in the course of the debate, for a constant and vigorous attack against Italy. Mr Buchanan expressed the view that a military victory by Germany was impossible, and one by Britain was also impossible. He said that the sooner there was a negotiated peace, the happier he. as a pacifist, would be. Mr Vernon Bartlett said that there had never been a war since the Crusades, in which the moral factors were so much on one hand, and the material factors on the other. He stressed the importance of—having this moral claim to world sympathy —making sure that they secured the support to which they were entitled, by a clear declaration of war aims. Mr Milne (Conservative) said he was not satisfied that the full industry of the country was yet being thrown into the struggle. He asked for drastic taxation on private incomes, for the war effort. Sir John Anderson (Lord President of the Council), warned Members against seeking immediate results, at the expense of the systematic development of productive capacity. The full weight of Britain’s effort would in due time be brought to bear crushingly on the enemy. Taking up Lord Winterton’s point, he called attention to the recent successful conference at Delhi, the recommendations of which had just become available in Britain, which would come to a decision with the least possible delay. Dealing with the defence of shipping and oversea communications, specially on the western approaches, he said that Mr Churchill himself, with his unrivalled experience, was giving his constant attention, as Chairman of the Defence Committee, to these problems, and the Government and its technical advisers were doing everything possible to find an early and effective solution. BRITAIN’S EXPENDITURE. RUGBY, December 4. Last night’s Exchequer returns revealed that Britain’s war epenxditure touched a new record in the week ended on Saturday last, of £93,133,950.