Britain's Policy

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 238, 8 October 1938, Page 5

Britain's Policy

House of Commons Approves

MR. CHAMBERLAIN CONVINCED HE WAS RIGHT

United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.

LONDON, Oct. 6. In the House of Commons the Labour no-confidence amendment was defeated by 369 votes to 150 and the motion of confidence was carried by 366 votes to 144. It is understood that 19 Conservatives and a Government Labour member abstained from voting, including Mr. Winston Churchill, Mr. Anthony Eden, Mr. A. Duff-Cooper, and Mr. L. S. Amery. The House, by 313 votes to 150, carried a motion to adjourn. The last speaker in the debate was the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain who was given a great ovation. Mr. Chamberlain said he was convinced that by his action, although h€ claimed no credit for it, he had averted

In discussing the principal arguments which he considered had been directed against the policy the Government had pursued, he said that, first, there had seen a suggestion that, despite the fac< that Britain had no treaty obligations In the matter, she should have declared at an early stage that, if Germany had resort to force against Czechoslovakia, Britain would fight. For any such action, the Premier maintained, it would have been impossible to secure the support of the electorate. The other suggestion was that, if the Government had felt the first impossible, it should have told Czechoslova da long ago that in no circumstances vould she get any help, so that she •ould have come to terms herself with Germany. But the issue was not so ilmple, Mr. Chamberlain said. France was under treaty obligations to Czechoilovakla, and it could not be expected ihat she should repudiate these beforeland, and so long as there was a risk >f France’s having to honour her obligations it was impossible to say thg Britain would in no circumstances b« nvolved. When the Government be* :ame convinced that nothing could any onger keep Sudetenland within Czechoilovakia, it urged Czechoslovakia to :ede the territory.

He claimed that the Government deterved the approval of the House foi its conduct, "which had saved Czechoslovakia from destruction and Europe Irom Armageddon.

Mr Chamberlain said: “The agreement Herr Hitler and I signed was not a pact, and, ac far as the question of never going to war was concerned, not even an expression of the two people signing It. It was their opinion of the desire of their respective peoples. The document was not drawn up by Herr Hitler but by the humble individual now addressing the House.

“It must also be remembered,” Mr Chamberlain added, “that the great selfgoverning Dominions would be affected >y peace or war. The Dominions have he right of consultation before we take i step which might have incalculable tonsequences for them. “I do not think war is inevitable. The strongest argument against it is the miversal aversion to war on the part ,f the peoples of the world. I believe hat the people of Britain desire ths •emoval of the causes of war by discussion in the spirit of collaboration and goodwill. That means the establishment >f personal contact. “The dictators must have a reasonable jrospect of success before a world conlence can be he‘ lV

“I sincerely believe,” he declared, “that we may yet secure peace in our time, but I have never suggested that it could be achieved by disarming, which means weakness unless we can induce others to disarm. The crisis has thrown light on our preparations. There must be the fullest inquiry to enable the deficiencies to be made good as soon as possible.

“I cannot help feeling that, wai pme, the people of Britain would hav» lost their spiritual Xaitu altogether. Now we may well have a spiritual revival. Everywhere there is a strong desire to serve. 1 would like to take advantage of that.” Mr. Chamberlain stated that his previous statement that the Government would not introduce conscription and compulsory national service in peace time still held good. On the motion for the adjournment., the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. C. K. Attlee, maintained that the House should continue closely to watch the situation. The Liberal leader, Sir Archibald Sinclair, suggested a meeting on October 18, which Captain H. Macmillan (Conservative) supported, declaring that many people were shocked at the House taking a holiday during such a period. The House of Commons, he said, was treated more like a Reichstag, meeting only to hear orations and register Government decrees. Mr. Chamberlain said: * ‘ The House can be summoned should the occasion arise. I think that is a sufficient safeguard.” Mr. Attlee, in winding-up the debate, said the Government’s motion implied that peace could be achieved by the methods followed during the past seven years; yet the ODly result thus far had been apprehension of the future of Britain and of civilisation. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Simon, repudiated the idea of a four-Power pact yet. No other suggestion of future policy was made. BRITAIN’S DEFENCES MUST BE STRENGTHENED LESSONS FROM CRISIS LONDON, Oct. 7. 'With Mr. Chamberlain’s departure for Berwickshire, where he intends to rest as long as possible, no important political activity is expected for several

weeks, but when the House of Commons meets again on November 1 there are certain to be lively debates and a searching inquiry Into defence deIciencies and future foreign policy. In the meantime, Sir Thomas Inskip, Mr. Hore-Belisha and Sir Kingsley Wood, the Defence Ministers, are taking stringent steps to stlengthen the defences. Simultaneously, consultations will be held between the high commands of the British and French air forces. Sir Cyril Newall, Chief of the Air Staff, and other British officers will arrive in Paris on Sunday. The Admiralty is unlikely to remain long without a chief. The early appointment of a First Lord is expected. Lord Runciman is among names mentioned. Mr. Chamberlain’s final speech in the debate was unusually emotional. It was notable not so much for its declaration of future policy as for its insistence on the need for strengthening the defences and its implication that the Government would seriously consider a system of national service. Government Whips claim that the confidence majority was two above the Government's normal majority. Papers confirm the abstentions among Conservative members, but a full and accurate list will be unavailable until later to-day. Viscount Cranborne, who made a speech criticising Mr. Chamberlain on October 4, did not attend. The British United Press Berlin correspondent learns reliably that a plebiscite will be held in Sudetenland similar to that in Austria for demonstration purposes. POLICY SAVED PEACE FAILURE WILL NOT BE BRITAIN’S FAULT LONDON, Qct. 7. The Times, in a leader dealing witi the Parliamentary debate, declared thal Mr. Chamberlain, Lord Halifax, ajid Sir John Simon expounded and defended a coherent and consistent policy which saved peace last week and offers hope of saving it hereafter. “If it fails,” the paper adds, “its failure will be the work of others, not involving England In weakness and disgrace. “The Government must answer the question: ‘Where * and how can I be useful?’ Volunteer effort must have the orderly direction of a national register. Training must be provided for Its services. Democratic energy must be collectively organised.”