MIDDLE EAST TROOPS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22486, 22 January 1943, Page 4

MIDDLE EAST TROOPS

Return As Soon As Possible Assurance By Minister CHRISTCHURCH. Jan. 21 “It is the desire and intention of the Government and the War Cabinet to return our Division from the Middle East as soon as ever it is possible t-o do so.” said the Minister of Supply and Munitions, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, amid applause last evening at the opening of the campaign of the Labour candidate in the Christchurch East byelection <Miss Mabel Howard). Tlie Minister said, however, that he hoped no person in the campaign, and especially no member of Parliament, would exploit the anxieties and affections of the people regarding the return of the Middle East Division. He said especially members of Parliament, because every M.P. was completely familiar with the entire story. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, had been frank with Parliament and had told members everything, and had read to them the cablegrams that passed between him and Mr Churchill. Further, every member of Parliament knew that it was not the Government or the War Cabinet, but Parliament itself that made the derision on the course being followed at present So it was outside the rights of any member of Parliament, Irrespective of what side of the House he might be. to attempt to win any support <.r kudos on the question. For security reasons he could not disclose the whole of the correspondence, but could only say that it was the intention to return the Division as soon as ever it was possible.