LAUGHTER IN HOUSE OF COMMONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 255, 28 October 1939, Page 7

LAUGHTER IN HOUSE OF COMMONS

— | SOVIET AMBASSADOR JOINS N AZ.I Ml A\ OK COMMUNISM THREE YEARS AGO [ British Offic-’-.U Wireless. ) RUGBY, Oct. 26. M. Maisky. Soviet Ambassador, who was seated in the diplomats’ gallery in the House of Commons, joined in the laughter that followed Mr. Neville Chamberlain’s citation of Herr von Ribbentrop’s speech in 1936 wherein he declared that Herr Adolf Hitler was convinced that the only real danger to Europe and the British Empire was the spread of Communism, which was the most terrible of all diseases—terrible because the people generally seem to realise the danger only when it is too late. Mr. C. R. Attlee, Leader of the Opposition, endorsed Mr. Chamberlain’s tributes to the home defences and expressed his pleasure at the results of the campaign against the U-boats. Referring to Herr von Ribbentrop, he declared: “It does nol seem worth while to follow up statements of that kind. Threats will not deter us from our duty. We stand ready for peace, but it must be a real peace. Sir A. Sinclair, Leader of the Liberal Party, supported Mr. Chamberlain and urged the Government not to allow relations with Russia to stagnate in the present unsatisfactory and even dangerous position. He added it would be a grave dereliction of duty if the Government left the Russian field open to the Germans. They should be vigorous in their initiatives in the commercial and diplomatic fields and convince 'he Soviet Government that the interests of mankind would best bo served by British, French and Russian understanding and collaboration. evoked was stilled as members heard the Prime Minister’s measured comment that the positive conclusion to be drawn from the Danzig speech was that the German Government had apparently made its choice, and Britain could make hut one reply. Mr. Chamberlain. after earlier stating again that poison gas had never been supplied to Poland by Britain in any form whatever, was asked if it was the view of the Government that this persistent German allegation was studied propaganda undertaken to justify the use of poison gas by Germany. i The Prime Minister replied: “We nave had similar instances in the ; past.”