TO ADJOURN OR NOT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 206, 1 August 1939, Page 7

TO ADJOURN OR NOT

BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

DELICATE SITUATION

LIBERAL LEADER’S VIEWS

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received August 1, 19.40 a.m. LONDON, July 31. Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal Leader), initiating in the House of Commons to-day. the foreign affairs debate, said: “Let me bluntlv tell the Prime Minister that the impression exists that he is still more inclined toward appeasement and is less resolute in resisting aggression than Lord Halifax.”

Sir Archibald Sinclair, proceeding, said tho House should not adjourn, or not adjourn for long, until the Russian negotiations were completed. “We must dissipate tho British fog of suspicion toward Russia and send to Moscow a man of the highest standing in order to consolidate the peace front by the inclusion of Russia,’’ he declared.

“Aggression against Hungary during the recess might compel her to defend her independence. Should wo help her resist?” he asked.

Was there any point short of a complete German military occupation of Danzig which wo should regard as aggression? Germany, on absorbing Danzig, would control Poland which must come tc term's, thus tumbling the peace front into futility, lie argued. Sir Archibald Sinclair urged giving China the aid to which she was entitled. Dr. Hugh Dalton (Labour) declared that the British, Russian and Polish “diplomatic dawdling” was unprecedented. Lord Halifax (British l'oreigm Secretary) and M. Molotov (Soviet Foreign Commissar) should meet, and the Premier (Mr Chamberlain) should exchange views with M. Stalin. VIRTUE OF FRANKNESS.

Mr Anthony Eden said that Mr Chaim bcrlain’s frankness, particularly in connection with the Russian negotiations, was bound to do good. “I ask the Government if there are still political differences to enlarge the military mission to a. political one in order that someone can talk to M. Stalin personally, and finish the whole thing in a week,” he said. Turning to the Far East, Air Eden said Japan not only had failed to conquer China, but the end was more remote than ever. The Chinese morale and organisation had made a remarkable recovery since the autumn. The' Government would find the support of every section of opinion in Britain if it was necessary to speak in plain terms to Japan. Mr Eden added that Danzig was no longer an issue, as Nazis ruled the town and had suppressed other political parties, had expelled the Jews, and sought to impose on Poland the fate of Czechoslovakia. Oiily an effective peace front would avert war. Mr R. A. Butler (Foreign Undersecretary), winding up the debate, said Britain must be acknowledged as the leader and organiser of the peace front. She had had considerable success'in her determined diplomatic efforts. A Liberal and Opposition motion to reduce the Estimates was defeated by 2G6 votes to 130. precise Information. DESIRE OF LIBERALS. RESISTANCE TO AGGRESSION. (British Official Wireless.) Received August 1, 11.30 a.m. RUGBY, July 31. Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal Leader), opening the foreign affairs debate, said the best use that could be made of the'debate was not to pursue past controversies, hut to obtain the most precise information about the principles of the Government’s foreign policy at the present time, and their practical application in the immediate future. There was much need for Mr Chamberlan to make it clear to his supporters that it was, in fact, the policy of himself and the Government to resist aggression and construct a peace front for that purpose. The House stood in need of an assurance about the negotiations with Russia. If peace were to be preserved and aggression stopped the Government must tell the House and tell Germany at what point the line was going to be drawn in Danzig. A victory by Japan in the Far East would mean the obliteration of British interests in China. Dr. Hugh .Dalton (Labour') said we were pledged to resist German aggression in Danzig, and the question he wished to ask Mr Chamberlain was at what point were we going to resist that aggression P Dr. Dalton added that the Labour Party objected very strongly to Parliament being sent away for a period of indefinite and prolonged duration. PREMIER CHEERED.

Mr Chamberlain, who spoke next, was received with Ministerial cheers. Answering the criticisms by previous speakers, Mr Chamberlain . said that anything more agreeable to our potential enemies than the suggestion that the Prime Minister was weaker than the Foreign Secretary in his determination in carrying out the policy which the Foreign Secretary ' announced on behalf of the Government ho could not imagine. 1

“I am asked what we have done since March to build up a peace front. I should scarcely have thought it necessary to ask that question when the results are apparent on every side. The House is well aware we have made good use of our time, and our defences are indeed of a formidable character,” said Air Chamberlain.