GENERAL CONDUCT OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 189, 7 May 1940, Page 7

GENERAL CONDUCT OF WAR

Important Debate Expected POLITICAL CIRCLES ACTIVE (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, May 5. The Press emphasizes great weekend activity in political circles as a prelude to Tuesday’s debate in the House of Commons not only on Norway but in the general conduct of the war. The “Daily Telegraph” says that groups of Peers and back-bench members of the House of Commons have met in private houses during the past few days to consider the Government’s action and formulate suggestions. One of the proposals most strongly advanced is the immediate formation of a small War Cabinet. “The Times” says that the public has taken stock of the Government’s structure and personnel and has reached the conclusion that there is abundant room for improvement. It is felt that the machinery is too cumbersome for rapid and vigorous initiative.

A large part of the-business of the House of Commons in the week ahead will be taken up with a debate on recent events in Norway (states British Official Wireless). It is recognized that Mr. Chamberlain’s speech in the House of Commons on Thursday was only of an Interim nature, and that his story is not complete. Discussion was at the time withheld until a further picture could with safety be told. It is expected that Mr. Chamberlain will give a full account of these recent events on Tuesday, when the whole sitting will be devoted to a debate on what the whole country readily accepts as a setback in the first phase of the Norwegian campaign.

It is expected that the debate will continue throughout Wednesday. • There will be a further discussion In the House of Lords on Thursday. Though there is a sense of relief and gratification, that the setback did not, as it might well have done had it been less skilfully conducted, turn to disaster, there undoubtedly existed a certain uneasiness in the minds not only of Opposition members before they separated for the weekend, and it seems likely that some signs of this will be manifest in the coming debate.

NEED FOR REALISM

Press Comment On Coming Debate LONDON, May 6. Tomorrow’s deblfte in the House of Commons regarding the campaign in Norway is expected to produce not only full details of the campaign but also some Indication of the future plan of the Allies. , r , The debate is expected to last two days. It will be opened by Mr. Chamberlain, who will be followed by Mr. Attlee and Sir Archibald Sinclair, leaderg of the Labour and Liberal Opposition. Mr. Chamberlain is himself expected to present a general picture of the events in Norway, and this will be filled out by Mr. Churchill. Mr. Oliver Stanley and Sir Samuel Hoare are likely to add to the discussion. The newspapers make little conjecture on how the debate is likely to go, but thev comment freely on the way the Norwegian “affair” was conducted. Most of them insist on the necessity for realism. Typical comment is that of one paper which says: “The public is waiting with an open mind but is perplexed by various question*, to which it expects an answer. It may be that the Government has a complete answer, in which case it will continue to enjoy the confidence of the public. In any case, the expedition to Norway had to be attempted. It consolidated Norwegian resistance anti gave the Allies time to secure a foothold in the north.” There is little suggestion that the Government was wrong to have taken the steps it did in Norway, but the “Daily Herald” comments: “If the Government knew of the difficulties that would be encountered, it should not. have made such optimistic speeches.” “The Times” devotes its comment to the organization and machinery of government, heading its article with the title, “A Warning and an Opportunity.” It states that one of the main effects on the public of the withdrawal from Norway has been to stiffen determination to make greater efforts than before. With this public opinion to back it the Government could well have a further stocktaking of its organization and machinery. Among the suggestions it makes is that the main Cabinet Ministers should, have deputies.