81-VOTE MARGIN

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 192, 10 May 1940, Page 9

81-VOTE MARGIN

Result Announced Amid Excitement

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received May 9, 7.50 p.m. LONDON, May 8. Government cheers and equally loud Opposition counter-cheers greeted the result of the division in the House of Commons on the Government’s war policy and, in particular, its conduct of the operations in Norway. The Government received a majority of 81 votes. The figures were:— For the Government . . . 281 Against the Government ~ .. 200 Mr. Herbert Morrison (Labour) in the course of a statement in which he made direct criticism of the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Simon, and the Air Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, announced that the Labour Party would divide the House. Mr. Chamberlain electrified the House by springing up and declaring that this challenge made the occasion still graver, and he welcomed the proposal. The vote was taken after a lengthy survey of the Norwegian campaign by Mr. Churchill, which he concluded by referring to the Labour censure move. The House would be wrong to take such little notice, and it would be ungenerous and unworthy to turn against the Prime Minister in a moment of difficulty without grave debate, he said. “Let personal quarrels be forgotten,” Mr. Churchill added. “Let us keep our hatreds for the enemy. Let us ignore party interests. Let all our energies be harnessed. Let all the ability and force of the nation be hurled into the struggle. At no time in the last war were we in greater peril than now. (Opposition cheers.) I urge the House to deal with these matters not by a precipitate vote but in accordance with the dignity of Parliament.” The division was made not on a Labour motion but on a t Government motion for the adjournment of the House. The vote was announced amid intense excitement. With the Ministerial and Opposition cheers there were shouts of “Resign!” from the Labour benches, and then concerted Opposition cries of “Go! Go!” A few Labour members, with their eyes on Mr. Churchill, sang the opening bars of “Rule, Britannia.” Forty-four members of the Government voted against the Government. One hundred and thirty members of the House of Commons were absent for various causes, including over 30 who are on service abroad. Members of the Government voting against the Government included Mr. Duff Cooper, Mr. L. S. Amery, Lord Winterton, Mr. R. J. Boothby, Mr. Hore-Belisha, Admiral Sir Roger Keyes, and Lady Astor. The present state of the parties is: Government, 414; Opposition, 191; Independent, 10.

(Received May 9, 8.20 p.m.) . . LONDON, May 9. fhe “Daily Mail” says that Mr. Chamberlain will see His Majesty at Buckingham Palace today to discuss the position of his Government.