Foreign Policy Attacked by Labour

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 81, 6 April 1938, Page 5

Foreign Policy Attacked by Labour

Motion of Censure in Commons

INTERVENTION QUESTION

("British Official Jfcreless.)

RUGBY, April 4.

Rising to take part in the debate in the House of Commons on the Labour Party’s motion of censure of the Government, the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, who was rceived with prolonged cheers, said it was the fifteenth debate on foreign affairs in nine weeks and that such concentrated attention on one subject must be unprecedented in British Parliamentary history. The debate was raised by Mr. Arthur Greenwood, who directed chief attention to the Spanish situation and to the question of foreign assistance to nationalist forces. Mr. Greenwood said he could give particulars of the number of new aeroplanes which had gone to Spain since Mr. Anthony Eden *s regisnation as Foreign Secretary. He could prove that there had been a large accession of military strength to the nationalist forces. "I have figures and the numbers and types of aeroplanes that have gone there,’’ he declared. "1 have photostat copies of German documents showing the structure of German air squadrons, one of which destroyed the last British ship that was destroyed. I have the names of the Germans who were in the aeroplane that destroyed that ship. It was brought down when bombing a Spanish railway line. I have here a photostat copy of the identification card of an officer who makes very serious admissions and who obviously does not speak without know ledge." In replying, Mr. Chamberlain said that the policy of the British Government had won the general approval of the whole country and practically tho whole world. It was still a fact that the Government looked forward to the time when the Lpague of Nations would be so strengthened and so revitalised as to fulfil its purpose to be an effective instrument for the prevention of war and the establishment of a settled peace in the world. “We shall do our best to increase the efficiency of the League until it is capable of performing those functions," he said, "but it cannot perform them to-day. "If it is true that the League cannot properly be described as the keystone of British policy, it is not because we have changed our policy. We are still intending to make the fullest use of the League in limits that must be recognised, but we say it is in no state to fulfil the condition which Lord Baldwin laid down as essential for collective security. To deny that is merely a piece of wilful and transparent hypocrisy."

The Prime Minister said that the Government had no intention of changing its policy regarding non-interven-tion in Spain. The Liberal Leader, Sir Archibald Sinclair, said he thought it a mistake to have had a debate. The Prime Minister’s policy had not won the country’s approval, nor that of the Dominions and the whole of the rest of the world, as Mr. Chamberlain claimed. "Call the League of Nations together before it is too late to rally the forces of freedom and justice," he urged. "We want to put peace, law and justice in the world on the moral basis of the Covenant of the League of Nations.' 7

The Labour censure motion was as follows: —"That as the foreign policy of the British Government cannot arrest the dangerous drift towards war and is inconsistent with its election pledges, the House is of opinion that the issue should be submitted to the country without delay." MOTION DEFEATED Received Tuesday, 8.45 p.m. LONDON, April 5. The Labour Party’s motion of censure was defeated by 359 votes to 152. FLAYS LABOUR CRITICS CHAMBERLAIN AT HIS BEST LONDON, April 4. In reply to the debate on the Labour censure motion, Mr Chamberlain taunted Mr A. Greenwood (Labour) with speaking for over an hour without once mentioning the general election which was the motive of Labour’s censure. He followed by bluntly telling Labour that nothing would cause greater consternation in their ranks than a general election.

Many members of the Labour Party regarded a motion of censure at this stage as bad tactics politically, and consequently did not take the debate seriously, while Government supporters were witnessing Mr Chamberlain give a debating performance worthy of his father at his best.

The House gave him an ovation lasting five minutes—one of the most remarkable demonstrations for years.