Decision Had to Be Quick One

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 98, 28 April 1939, Page 7

Decision Had to Be Quick One

Premier’s Reference to Other Events of Week FRENCH INFLUENCE United Press Association.—By Elcctno Telegraph.—Co pj-rlghL Received Thursday, Midnight. LONDON, April 27. After the conscription announcement in the Commons yesterday, Mr. Bevan (Labour) urged that the debate thereon be not limited to one day. Mr. Chamberlain replied: “Other events which take place this week make it desirable that the decision of the House be reached quickly.” Earlier replying to the Liberal leader, Sir Archibald Sinclair’s inquiry as to why he was not consulted, Mr. Chamberlain told him that probably he did not realise how quickly events were moving. It was important, therefore, in Cabinet’s opinion, that the decision should be announced then. The general opinion is that Mr. Chamberlain’s reference to “other events’’ had Hitler’s speech to-morrow in mind. An Independent Cable message, from Paris states that the Prime Minister, M. Daladier, was largely responsible for the suddenness oi conscription in Britain. lit. Daladier opposed M. Coulondrc’s (French Ambassador) return to Berlin, but finally yielded to pressure from Downing Street, where it was urged that the. impression caused by the return of the Ambassadors should offset conscrip. tion in Britain before Hitler’s speech. The French press hails British conscription with profound delight, characterising it as one of the most important moves in Europe since the war. Typical headlines are: “Britain crosses the Rubicon” and “Bravo, England!” A Rome message says news plastered on the front pages describes the ending of British isolation. Popolo d’lroma says the decision “marks the overthrow of the fundamental British idea that England, because of her divine prerogatives, may fight wars with the soldiers of other nations.”