CONSCRIPTION MOVE HAS TACTICAL OBJECT P.M. SAYS

Northern Advocate, 28 April 1939, Page 7

CONSCRIPTION MOVE HAS TACTICAL OBJECT P.M. SAYS

[British Official Wireless.l (Received 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, April 27. Mr Chamberlain, in* the House of Commons, said that two days would be given to the second reading of the Conscription Bill, the first of which would be Thursday next, and that the other Bill for the mobilisation of Territorials would come the week after next. The Government thought it important that a statement should be made in the course of this week, because if it had been delayed until next week it would almost inevitably have been taken as being in some way related to the speech Herr Hitler is to make tomorrow. Circumstances Alter Cases. Referring to the pledge given in the House of Commons in the past, not to introduce conscription within the lifetime of this Parliament, Mr Chamberlain said he wanted to point out that the occasion of the pledge was very different from to-day. In those times war was not imminent, and there was no question present in the minds of anybody which then appeared likely to lead to war. They had thought at that time that it would have been possible to meet all the country’s needs by the voluntary system of recruiting. The fact was that to-day the Government no longer thought that the needs of the country could be met by the voluntary system if that system were to stand alone. Situation’s Rapid Change. Surely it was *not necessary to remind the House that even since March 29 the situation had changed rapidly. Since then the Government had given

assurances to Poland, Greece and Rumania, and had thus enormously increased Britain’s liability. Mr Chamberlain added that if these assurances, whose purpose was to prevent war. were to be effective, Britain must inspire confidence in those countries and throughput Europe that her assurances would be carried through to the end. It had been becoming clear to the Government that the success . of its whole efforts to build up a solid front against the idea of domination by force was being jeopardised by doubts expressed as to the British determination.

Relief to Britain’s Friends. < ;ii He did not think anyone could read C; to-day’s papers /without realising that (h| the Government’s statement had brought confidence, relief and encouragement to all Britain’s friends in Europe. . . ;3|| It would be a mistake to suppose, Jgj although the number of men affected S in a single year by the proposal was not large, that from the military point of view it was not important. To have a certain knowledge that on a definite « day a definite number of men would ; : 'J be available who could be trained in '•s a definite time was of first importance f in planning military operations'. Profiteering Prevention; . The Government was associating with this, and other fresh proposals, /■■ designed to meet the views of the Opposition, with which the Government, had every sympathy, that when people were asked to undertake compulsory 1 service it ought net at the same tipie VJ to be permitted to others, perhaps not sharing in the obligations, to be en- >■/. riched out of the country’s need.