“STRIP TO WAIST FOR VICTORY”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 5 December 1940, Page 5

“STRIP TO WAIST FOR VICTORY”

SERIES OF SPEECHES IN COMMONS BACKBENCHERS URGE GOVERNMENT ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE [British Official Wireless] (Received sth December, 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, 4th December. The House of Commons, resuming the Address-in-Reply debate, heard a senes of speeches from backbenchers, almost all devoted to urging the Govenment to more drastic action in mobilising the entire resources of the country for victory. Lord Winterton expressed disappointment in what he considered the failure of the Government spokesman to give a convincing answer to criticisms voiced earlier in the debate. There was a general desire, he said, to see Britain ta*e the offensive in the field, but the real offensive must first take place in the factories and shipyards. Lord Winterton urged also the vital importance of harnessing the resources of India and Africa to provision supplies for the Middle East campaigns. At Home he advocated compulsory measures for the control of resources and the transference and training of manpower. Sir Seymour Hicks (Labour) agreed that on the Home front they must strip to the waist for victory. He echoed the demand frequently heard in the course of the debate for a constant vigorous attack against Italy, Mr G. Buchanan (1.L.P.) expressed the view that a military victory by Germany was impossible, and by Britain also impossible. He said that the sooner there was a negotiated peace the happier he as a pacifist would be. Mr Vernon Bartlett said there had never been a war since the Crusades in which the moral factors were so much on the one hand and the material factors on the other. He stressed the importance of—having this moral claim to world sympathy—making sure they secured the support to which they were entitled by a clear declaration of war aims. Sir J. S. Millie (Conservative) said he was not satisfied that the full industry of the country was yet being thrown into the struggle. He asked for drastic taxation on private incomes for the war effort. Sir John Anderson, Lord President of the Council, warned members against seeking immediate results at the expense of the systematic development of productive capacity. The full weight of Britain’s effort would in due time be brought to bear crushingly on the enemy. Taking up Loid Winterton’s point, he called attention to the recent successful conference at Delhi recommendations had just become available in Britain which would come to a decision with least possible delay. Dealing with the defence of shipping and oversea communication, specially the western approaches, he said that Mr Churchill himself with his unrivalled experience was giving his constant attention as chairman of the Defence Committee to these oroblems. and the Government and its technical advisers were leaving nothing undone to find an early effective solution.