FAITH IN LEADER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24828, 30 January 1942, Page 5

FAITH IN LEADER

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS TRIBUTES TO CHURCHILL BURDEN SHOULD BE LIGHT- '-'-'" ENED RUGBY, Jan. 28. The reception of Mr Churchill's speech in the House of Commons may be summed up in the words of The Times, which says: "The speech was of the quality which has given him a commanding ascendency in the people's confidence. He showed his unusual instinct for significant features on a world-wide panorama, overcoming for his audience the optical difficulties in the way of seeing all sides of" the globe at cne view. He' held in due balance the parts assigned to Great Britain and the Empire in the grand strategy of the United Nations, and. even while confronting with cleaiyeyed \ resolution both recent disasters' i'and the prospect of further losses'ahead, he showed that the expectation of ultimate victory rests now on surer foundations than ever." At the same time, some clear criticism of Government policy emerged during the development of the debate. Mr Pethick-Lawrence spoke of "smoke screens.over events in the Pacific" to hide them from '.he British public, and claimed that the British public should have the facts on which to base their judgment of events, desiring to see that, the lessons of the past are learned in order to avoid repetition. Other speakers made the same point, agreeing that there should be no. recriminations for mistakes made, but that care'should be taken that the same mistakes will not be repeated. Reference was made to the heavy responsibility undertaken individually by Mr Churchill, and suggestions were put forward that it might be possible for him to choose Ministers who would give him even greater assistance, and that his burden be lightened by more devolution of his responsibilities. Confidence was generally expressed and emphasised in Mr Churchill's leadership, to which speaker after speaker paid tribute, and there is no doubt that faith in Mr Churchill's •ability to lead the country is as high as. or even higher than, at any time during the war.

CONDUCT OF THE WAR DEBATE,ON CONFIDENCE VOTE LONDON, Jan. 28. In the House of Commons debate on the conduct of the war, the Lord Privy Seal, Mr C. R. Attlee, formally moved a vote of confidence in Mr Churchill. Sir John Wardlaw-Milne (Con.), said: "It.is essential that at this critical and vital time it should be made perfectly clear to the whole world that the British are of one mind and behind this or any other Government which will fight the war to a finish. It is unfortunate that this vote of confidence might give the impression that the House of Commons is thoroughly satisfied with the present Government and every member of it. I am afraid there are very few persons in the House of Commons who could say that was true, and still fewer people in Britain. He said the country had been misled and treated to childish inconsistency and inaccurate statements. It was entitled to know why. The House of Commons was tremendously proud of Mr Churchill, but was-afraid that he was carrying a burden beyond the power of any one man." Mr E. Shinwell (Lab.) suggested two votes of confidence, one in Mr Churchill and one in the Government. He said the question had been asked for months about Japan's war preparations, but had been fobbed off by assurances that the Government had the situation in hand. It was alleged that Britain had been compelled to deprive the Far East of supplies as the result of Russian commitments. It was doubted if Russia had been sent 1000 each of planes, tanks, or guns. If the Government's declarations about output were accurate, these quantities were small in relation to the vast needs of our Allies. Clearly it was not owing to Russia's demands that gallant men had been compelled to endure so much in Hongkong "arid Malaya. Mr Attlee, replying to points raised in the debate, said he could not say what reinforcements had been sent to the Far East without at the same time informing the enemy. "I can assure the House, however,", said Mr Atlee, I that reinforcements were sent on tftgir way to.the Far East at the earliest possible moment, and sent from those places and forces most readily available. Other reinforcements were being sent, but the House must remember the long distance to be travelled in bringing reinforcements to that, theatre of war."

To critics who dwelt on the misfortunes suffered, Mr Atlee countered: " In a memorable speech the Prime Min-ister-has said he offered us only blood, toil, tears, and sweat. Those are still