BRITAIN TO DEBATE SHIPPING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 144, 21 June 1941, Page 5

BRITAIN TO DEBATE SHIPPING

IN PRIVAiE SESSION ENEMY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO LISTEN IN. Rugby, June 19. Announcing that a debate on shipping would take place on the next House of Commons sitting day. Mr. Churchill said he had come to the conclusion that such a debate should be in a private session. “I think,” he continued, “there might be a serious danger to publicinterest if the matter was discussed in public. If the debate is in secret session I hope to be able to make a state ment to the House, but I certainly will net attempt to do so in public. I do not think I should be able to do justice to the subject, every part of which is inter-related. I must remind the" House that the Battle of the Atlantic is a continuous operation, going on day by day, and its seriousness has not been by any means removed by anything that has occurred as the year has advanced.”

Mr. E. Shinwell (Lab.) stronglypressed Mr. Churchill to reconsider this decision.

After referring to “alarming statements” recently made by responsible statesman, Mr. Shinweli said that members would exercise the utmost discretion in the debate and use it to assist the Government and remove disquiet in the public mind. Mr. Churchill replied he must ask the House to be advised by the Government on this matter. They would go into great detail when they were together privately. It would be a great pity if they were forced to conduct discussions on these most grave matters with the enemy listening and every word reaching them quite soon. Statements could and would be made by the Government. They could have a debate and see what conditions were arrived at among themselves, and perhaps afterwards some statement could be made in public.— 8.0.W.