Labour’s Criticism of Government

Northern Advocate, 16 March 1939, Page 7

Labour’s Criticism of Government

(Received 3 p.m.) . LONDON, March 15. JN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, MR D. R. GRENFELL (LAJ3OUR—GLAMORGAN), OPENING THE DEBATE, COMMENTED WITJI AMAZEMENT ON WHAT HE CALLED THE SENSE OF SPLENDID ISOLATION AND DETACHMENT OF MR CHAMBERLAIN’S STATEMENT ON A v SITUATION CHARGED WITH EMOTION. PRIDE HAD BEEN HUMBLED, AND A NATION’S TRUST AND INDEPENDENCE VIOLATED, Series of Crises This incident, he held, was simply one of a series of crises to which Europe had been treated, and which would be repeated on suitable occasions for some time to come, because Britain had not been seized with the real significance of events in Europe in the last few years. He agreed that little could have been done since Munich, but he charged the Government with failure to cope with the situation before Munich. He said the Ministers had stated last October that under the Municlr agreement Czechoslovakia would enjoy greater security , than ever before, and asserted that Mr Chamberlain’s credulity passed all understanding. Period of Terrible Danger The fact was that they were now entering upon a period fraught with immediate and terrible danger to all. There was no security left in Europe. Smaller nations were in a state of apprehension and fear, and even large nations were not free from it. ff. He .asked the Government to seek, before it was too late, to assemble for co-operative efforts the peace loving forces of Europe and the world. An Urgent Call ? v Sir Archibald Sinclair, Liberal leader, said that the methods of aggres- | sion employed by Herr Hitler’s Government in Czechoslovakia would almost certainly be used elsewhere. He, too, appealed to Mr Chamberlain to gather like-minded nations under Britsh leadership in defence of prin- . ciples of law in international relations, Mr Eden elicited from Mr Chamberlain an intimation that there was % no intention to cancel Mr R. S. Hudson’s tour of northern capitals. Other Victims in View I . Proceeding, Mr Eden said the hop es which some had been able to re- ,_■# pose in last October as the result of Munich had been falsified, and no one ] now could doubt that there woufti only be a respite before further de- | mands were made, and another victim arrainged, which, like its predeces- ;■! sors, would be confronted with the alternative of resistance or surrender. What they saw in the world today was the rapid deterioration of international authority. . >' He was convinced that if these methods were allowed to continue unchecked the nations would all be involved in a universal tragedy. Appeal for Strong Government Mr Eden concluded with a fervent appeal for the co-operation of parties in convincing the world of the strength of the nation, and its determination to make an effort without par.al lei in its history. Sir John Simon replied for the Government. • - ■