WAR STATEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1940, Page 6

WAR STATEMENT

IN THE COMMONS

MADE BY MR CHAMBERLAIN. (Per British o'fftcial Wireless.) (Received this day at 10.17 a.m.). R-UGBY, March French’, Turkish, Belgian, Argentine, United States, Chinese, Spanish and, Russian Ambassadors were present ’in a crowded Hotfse when the Premier ; made a statement at the .opening of the 1 Ad'ris A of Commons debate on the pi'Ojtress. Aii’d erindriet of the war. ! . He’ dealt -first with the “great tragedy” of Finland, the cdllapse of pilose resistance gave a profound shock ’ throughout the world. The peace terms .were such .as could only have been 5 accepted by a proud people like the Filins under dirA eohfpulsion, for they i greatly compromised their independl enee and integrity. Their heroic stand • wds hot in vain, for they liaci won the respect of the whole world. The Gov- ‘ erriment which fought the war still ;hbld ! office. The Army was intact and the spirit of the people was unbroken and, added ■ Mr'■feliaihherlain, amid cheers, though ) Britain, liacf 'been unable to save Pin-. hailSy perhaps l her power to help her ' was not yet at an end. Britain would * | take its share, with others in the regeneration of. Finland. After speaking of Germany’s inescap•ablb responsibility since the Soviet invasion of Finland, of. the Moscow Pact land of the German threats which 1 “terrified Scandinavian. countries into - withholding help which might, perhaps, ; have saved her,” Mr Chamberlain de■ciared the suggestion that the Allies | had. failed to do the utmost to help 1 could riot for one moment be mainitairied. • ; Before listing the. material assistance j sent by Britain, Mr Chamberlain rei minded the House that the Allies were facing an unscrupulous and very j powerful foe, whose forces for many : weeks had been marshalled and ready ' for an attack which could be. delivered fin a few hours, so- that all requests i from friendly neutrals must be con- • tinually weighed in the balance against i their own needs. There were also diffi- ] culties of communication. Neverthej less, no appeal by the Finnish Govi eminent had remained-unanswered. I The.Finnish'requests had naturally | varied. In .the early stages they were j chiefly for fighters, but later they were I for bombers and considerable quantities |of ; small arms and ammunition, and S.later still the chief emphasis was on ! guns. Every request was promptly and I fully considered, and met as far as i possible.. . , The Premier read the following list: Aeroplanes promised 152, actually sent f 101; guns (all kinds) promised 223, sent. 114; shells promised 297,000, sent . 185,000; Vickers guns promised 100, all of which.were sent; marine mines promised 500, sent 400; hand grenades ■ promised 50,000, all sent; aircraft (bombs promised 20,700, sent; 15,700; f signal . equipment promised 1300 sets, 1 sent 800; anti-tank rifles promised 200, all. sent; respirators promised 60,000, all sent; greatcoats promised 100,000, . all.sent; battledress promised 100,000, sent; '.anti-tank mines promised 20,000, sent 10,000; ambulances promised 48, all sent.

The list also included many other items, such as medical stores, teuts, and equipment, sand hags, steel helmets, etc., and large quantities of small arms and ammunition, .