DEMAND BY MR CHURCHILL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24826, 28 January 1942, Page 5

DEMAND BY MR CHURCHILL

VOTE OF , CONFIDENCE PACIFIC COUNCIL SET UP IMPERIAL WAR CABINET (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Rec. 1 a.m.) LONDON, Jan, 27. When he began his eagerly-awaited speech in the British House of Commons to-day, the Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill, dropped an immediate bombshell. He said he had come to the conclusion that he must ask to be given an assurance of support by a vote of confidence from the House. It was because things had gone badly and worse was to come that he demanded a vote of confidence. Mr Churchill said that from time to time in the life of any Government there came occasions which must be clarified. Anyone who had read the newspapers in the last few weeks and observed how affairs were going at home and abroad would be convinced that such an occasion was at hand. His request for a vote of confidence was a constitutional and democratic procedure. Making a statement concerning Rudolph Hess, Mr Churchill said that when Hess arrived in Britain he firmly believed that he had only to gain access to certain circles in Britain to ensure that what was known as “the Churchill clique” would be thrown out of power, and a Government would be set up with which Hitler could negotiate a magnanimous peace. “We are beginning to see our way through the situation, although we are in for a very bad time; but, provided we stand together and throw in the last spasms of our strength, it looks more than ever before that we are going to win the war,” Mr Churchill continued. “If we had scattered our resources all over the Far East we should have been ruined. Our munitions output is gigantic and building up remarkably, and we are steadily increasing our aircraft production, not only in numbers, but also in size and quality; but we have not had the increase I had hoped for.”

Mr Churchill said he was to blame for the way the country was being controlled. He could not serve effectively unless, in spite of what had gone wrong and when things became worse, he had the trust and faithful support of those serving beside him. He referred to the call to dispose of generals, airmen, and soldiers, and accepted himself part of the blame for how things had fared. “ Sections of the British and Australian press are now demanding that Mr Duff Cooper should be thrown to the wolves, but I regret that ][ am unable to grant their wish,” Mr Churchill said...; , ■

Mr Churchill said that three or four months.ago the enemy was blasting his way through Russia, and no one could tell what would happen, nor could the outcome yet be judged.' Little was known of Russia’s military strength, and, therefore, the achievements of the Soviet were all the more glorious. Britain’s best help to Russia still lay in supplies of tanks and aircraft, and at least they were coming to hand in large numbers. Had the Russian situation deteriorated, the whole of the position in the Middle East would have been imperilled, Mr Churchill continued. The Germans prepared for a full offensive, with the object of taking. Tobruk and advancing against Egypt. The British agreed with General Auchinleck’s plan to built up a strong force to engage in delaying action. Instead, the British succeeded in recapturing Cyrenaica, but it had yet to be held. Regarding the fighting in Libya, Mr Churchill said that although the Imperial forces had not succeeded in destroying those of General Rommel, nearly two-thirds of the Axis forces were wounded, prisoners, or dead. Allied losses in killed, wounded and captured totalled 18,000 officers and men. The greater part of these were British. During the / battle the Imperial forces had not numbered more than 45,000, against an enemy of more than double that strength. The British had taken 36,500 prisoners. and killed 11.500 Germans and 13.000 Italians, making a total of 61.000 effectives lost to the enemy. In addition, 852 enemy aircraft had been destroyed, and 386 German and Italian tanks captured or put out of action. “ I cannot give you a picture of the present position in North Africa,” Mr

Churchill said. “ General Rommel is a great and daring general, and he has recently received reinforcements. I can only say that we have succeeded in inflicting far heavier losses on the enemy than we ourselves have suffered.” Japanese naval superiority would result in many and heavy blows against the united nations established and having possessions in the Far East. The Battles for Malaya and Singapore would be fought to the last inch. The British, Australian, and Indian forces fighting in this theatre had been considerably reinforced in the last week. Mr Churchill said he doubted whether the Japanese would attempt to invade Australia. Mr Churchill announced that in order to wage war effectively against Japan he had agreed with President Roosevelt that the British Prime Minister should set up a Pacific War Council in London at the same time as a similar council was formed in Washington. The members of the council would represent the British, Australian, New Zealand, and Netherlands Governments. The Australian Government had asked for accredited representation in the War Cabinet for the formulation and direction of policy. “We have, of course, agreed, and the same facilities will he granted to New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa,” Mr Churchill added.