CONFIDENCE DEMANDED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 73, 23 February 1945, Page 5

CONFIDENCE DEMANDED

VOTE ON YALTA DECISIONS. (Special Correspondent.) LONDON, Feb. 22. The return of Mr, Churchill from bis flights to conferences abroad is always regarded in Westminster with interest, but rarely has it been so great as at present.

The House of Commons and the country are both awaiting the Prime Minister’s amplification of the Crimea agreement with more than usual intensity. It will be given in the House on Tuesday when a two days’ debate on the Yalta Conference begins. It has been decided that any vote taken on the decisions made at Yalta will be treated as a vote of confidence by the Government. This is reported to have caused some misgiving among sections of Commoners. They had hoped Mr Churchill would give a global survey of the war and the implications of the Crimea agreement without a division.

Many members, both Conservative and Labour, have taken exception to the proposed Polish settlement, and they tend to regard any suggestion of a vote of confidence as an attempt to “steam-roller’’ the House and override any legitimate objections.

The position is commented on by the Manchester Guardian political correspondent. “It is becoming increasingly evident that the Tories are approaching .the Yalta decisions with some reserve,” lie says. It seems certain that most interest in Mr Churchill’s statement will be in the Polish question. There is also a desire to know, as the Daily Herald points out, when France may be expected to come into full partnership with Britain, the United States and Russia. The Daily Telegraph. thinks there mav be sharp criticism on another point. This relates to the framework of the system of world order discussed at Dumbarton Oaks, where it was agreed that a Power charged, with aggression should not have the right to vote for or against itself in the matter The Russian view is that if one of the bi> Powers is charged it must be enabled to vote. It is stated that the point is believed to he conceded, and that such a decision would have the effect of nullifying any move against one of the big Powers.