“We Have Eaten Dirt In Vain” Might Be Britain's Epitaph

Northern Advocate, 1 March 1939, Page 8

“We Have Eaten Dirt In Vain” Might Be Britain's Epitaph

-SIR ARCHIBALD SINCLAIR

(Received 2.30 p.m.)

RUGBY, February 28

MOVING THE CENSURE MOTION IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON " the GOVERNMENT’S RECOGNITION OF THE FRANCO GOVERNMENT, MR C. R. ATTLEE DENIED THAT THERE WAS NO EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT LEFT IN REPUBLICAN SPAIN, AND ASKED WHY THE OVER-RUNNING OF CATALONIA BY GENERAL FRANCO’S FORCES IMPOSED THE NECESSITY FOR RECOGNITION ANY MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS MILITARY SUCCESSES. I

The main reason against recognition, he argued, remained—namely, tnat the success of Franco’s armies was due to foi’eign intervention. Mr Attlee considered, moreover, that recognition should only have been i given on conditions including a satisfactory settlement of claims of the British Government in respect of 24 British vessels which had been sunk, 120 which had been damaged, and the 45 officers and men of the British merchant navy who had been killed.

* Daladier Trumps Chamberlain Trick. The Leader of the Opposition quoted a statement by M. Daladier in the French Chamber of Deputies on February 24, to the effect that he had received advice on February 22 that the British Government considered the hour had come to recognise General Franco. It was obvious that Mr Chamberlain had made up his mind and notified the Prime Minister bf another country to act on a policy which he refused to communicate to the House of Commons.

That was not the way to treat the House of Commons, declared Mr Attlee. It was a device to make M. Daladier speak first, but the trick was trumped, because M. Daladier revealed that he was acting under pressure, from the British Government. Tissue of Half-Truths. Mr Chamberlain’s statement justifying recognition was a tissue of halftruths, which were than lies. There had obviously been a decision prior to February. 23, when the Prime Minister evaded the opportunity of acquainting the House. Mr Attlee said there was great distrust of the Government in the Dominions, the United States, and throughout the democratic world, who saw countries sacrificed with the acquiescence of Britain. The Government had done nothing to build up peace, but had announced to the whole world that anyone who uses force will have a friend in the British. (Ministerial cries of “Shame!” and Opposition cheers.) Mr Attlee raised the question of international law and order, and quoted a sentence from Hall’s work to. the effect that in certain circumstances “premature recognition in effect amounts to an act of intervention.” Stabbed in Back. He concluded: “Mr Chamberlain Is stabbing the heroic defenders of democracy in the hack.” Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal leader) said he declined to be convinced of the Government’s hope that they would succeed by relieving Gen-

eral Franco’s dependence on Germany and Italy. For the Liberals, -he refused to advance credits to bolster up the new Spanish Government.

Eaten Dirt in Vain

The Government had weakened the democracies of Europe, and betrayed them one after the other, and its epitaph might be: “We have eaten dirt in vain ” The debate continues.

Viscount Halifax is confined to his bouse with influenza, and was not able to take his seat in the House of Lords. Lord Strabolgi, for the Opposition, wished him a speedy recovery.