ALLIES CHARGED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 96, 21 March 1940, Page 8

ALLIES CHARGED

LACK OF INITIATIVE. OPPOSITION CRITICISM. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, March 19. In the House of Commons the Leader of the Opposition (Mr C. R. Attlee) said: “The initiative must not be letb to Hitler. We can’t have a policy of wait and see. Whether the war is long o'r short, there is no excuse for not strengthening the home Iront. There is need for a drive. The Prime Minister must be ruthless against inefficiency. “Neutral opinion is still favourable to Britain, and if that is not evident among the rulers it is so among the people. 1 want to see a War Cabinet that lays down war principles and makes decisions.” _ The Liberal Leader (Sir Archibald Sinclair) said everybody was asking what Hitler and Stalin were going to do. It was time we asked what Mr Chamberlain was going to do. The impression abroad was that the Allies were good but weak, vacillating, slow and ineffective, while the Germans were evil but vigorous and terribly efficient. The former War Minister, Mr L. Horc Bclisha, said powerful onslaughts could have broken the Russian attacks on Finland. None of the objections against the despatch of troops could have prevented sending Royal Air Force squadrons. The Allies hesitated, the enemy acted, and Finland was defeated. The effects in Europe were apparent in moves for new alignments. Britain and France, the strongest entity in the world, must show their strength. Mr Chamberlain, replying to critics in tho debate in the Touse ol Commons, said the suggestions that Britain was outwitted at every turn were not conducive to victory nor were the supplies pouring through the blockade. The Navy and Royal Air Force were keeping a. continuous watch on Nqrwegian waters and if German ships wore violating those waters we did not hesitate to enter and attack. U-BOATS DEFIED. USE OF CUNARD LINERS. . NEW YORK, March 19. Shipping circles hail the reported decision to employ the Queen Mary and Mauretania as troop ships, the publication of which is permitted in Canada, as striking evidence of British confidence that the German submarines have lost most of their effectiveness.