NO COMPULSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24325, 15 June 1940, Page 10

NO COMPULSION

| EVACUATION SCHEME ■Zi' POSITION IN BRITAIN MILITARY NECESSITY (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, June 13. In the course of a statement in the House of Commons on evacuation the Minister of Health, Mr Malcolm MacDonald, spoke of the risk of a German invasion of Britain, and said_the enemy would probably attempt to seize certain places on the coast and occupy them as bridgeheads, through which he would pour men and materials. The British forces resisting such attempts ought not to be hampered by refugees crowding the roads and civilians would do the best service by staying where they were. “It is true, however, that the resistance of our forces to the enemy would be simpler and easier if before the operations started the civilian population of those places was re duced to the minimum.” he said 'ln those circumstances it would be desirable, prior to operations starting, that there should be an evacuation of a considerable portion of the local population. The prospect is under review every 24 hours by the: Govern ment. In a case like that, some evacuation may be necessary for military reasons, and the Government does riot rule, out the possibility of compulsory evacuation.” The. Government has decided against compulsory evacuation from congested areas. It was true that people taken to the reception areas would be much safer, but the Government could not guarantee absolute safety. “We are fighting an enemy who bombs peaceful villages and machine-guns civilians working in the fields,” he said. If the Government compelled evacuation and some were killed it would be assuming a heavy responsibility, which should not be assumed short of .absolute military necessity. Large numbers of parents were determined that they would not be separated from their children, and would break the law if evacuation were compulsory. The discipline of the nation would break down. Another argument against compulsory evacuation was that the great majority of men and women in congested areas were concerned with vital was production For these reasons the Goyernment had selected certain categories for Organ-, ised evacuation. Expectant mothers would be taken from London every day, but the great majority of, those evacuated were school children.