FEDERAL CABINET

Southland Times, Issue 22732, 7 November 1935, Page 5

FEDERAL CABINET

MR HUGHES RESIGNS ATTITUDE TOWARDS SANCTIONS STATEMENT IN HOUSE (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) Canberra, Nov. 6. Mr W. M. Hughes’s resignation was handed to the Prime Minister to-day. Later, when the House met, Mr Lyons attempted to make a statement, but when Labour members objected the Speaker refused leave. Considerable disorder followed. Mr Lyons, greatly angered, resumed his seat and the debate on the Sanctions Bill was taken up. Mr Hughes thus obtained his chance to explain his attitude. He said he intended to support the measure now and had proposed to support it. When the debate commenced he quoted lengthily from his book, “Australia and the War To-day,’’and claimed that the book was written chiefly with the object of arousing Australians to a realization of the danger in which the country stood. He denied that his attitude in regard to the League was incompatible with that of the Government. The lesson he sought to drive home was that it would be most dangerous to rest calmly in the belief that the League could always preserve peace. He was prepared to stand or fall by that statement. Surely, he added, it was a pious hope to expect Signor Mussolini to be turned from his path by a mere gesture. Mr Curtin, Leader of the Opposition, contended that Mr Hughes had been unfairly treated. His attitude was that of any other thinking person, namely, that an economic blockade to be effective must be backed by force, which would inevitably lead to war. Mr Lyons tabled correspondence between himself and Mr Hughes, and the debate on a motion for the printing of this correspondence was adjourned.