Attlee, P.M. Look Ahead To Peace

Northern Advocate, 30 November 1939, Page 6

Attlee, P.M. Look Ahead To Peace

LONDON, November 28,

The general debate on the Address-in-Reply, which will continue tomorrow and on Thursday in the House of Commons and will be wound up next week, was opened by the Leader of the Labour .Opposition (Mr C. R. Attlee), who directed his remarks principally to the question of war aims.

He said it was most important to think of peace aims now, and clearly state them to counter enemy propaganda and to rally world opinion to support the Allies. “A peace settlement must be made by the co-operation of the victors, vanquished and neutrals alike,” continued Mr Attlee.

“It must recognise the rights of all nations, small as well as great. Force Must be Abandoned.

“It must imply the abandonment of the use of force and aggression, and the acceptance of disinterested thirdparty judgment.” Disappointment was expressed by Mr Attlee that the Prime Minister, in his Sunday broadcast, rather spoke of a new Europe as something Utopian to be realised after long years.

They were faced by a crisis of civilisation which called for drastic remedies.

The people wanted some assurance now that their children would not have to face the ordeal again in 25 years, as they today were having to face it 25 years after their fathers.

Mr Chamberlain had shown that he wanted a reduction of armaments, but Mr Attlee complained that he had not faced the necessity of collective security if disarmament was to be realised.

Cannot be Foreseen

The Prime Minister denied that he had implied in his broadcast that the conditions of peace he had described were remote.

“It is no use today to say much machinery shall* be set up, because we do not know whether it will be possible in the conditions that will then prevail,” he said. “We shall need all our courage, all our tenacity and all our patriotism to achieve our aims,” continued Mr Chamberlain. “For let us not make the mistake of under-rating our enemy. Need Strong Will.

“When we have achieved that, then indeed we may find we will require greater vision and even stronger will to win the peace than It has taken to win the war.

“I do not doubt that when the time comes there will be those who will have marked vision and that will.

“I" only hope they may have greater fortune in fulfilling their own Ideals than those had who were left, to win the peace after the last war.”