HOUSE OF COMMONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 24, 28 July 1939, Page 9

HOUSE OF COMMONS

10 BETAKEN AS USUAL

RECALL IF NEEDED 1

(British Official Wireless;)

(Received July 28, 11.15 a.m.)] f

RUGBY, July 27. * Tho Prime Minister, replying to ti question in the House of Commons by Mr. Arthur Greenwood (Labour), said that the adjournment of Parliament for the summer recess would be -' taken on Friday of next week. He would announce next week the date i of reassembly, and he intimated that the motion for the summer adjournment contain the usual provision for the earlier recall of Parliament if >~ necessaryMr. Greenwood asked if Mr, Champ - * berlain had given consideration to » suggestion that there should be regular meetings of the House during tha recess, and that they should not disperse for a considerable period in, view of public anxiety over the inter-' national situation. Mr. Chamberlain replied that it did not seem to him an advisable course' to pursue; it would be likely to keep the whole country in a state of anxiety. Mr. Greenwood then suggested that, on the contrary, it was more likely to give a feeling o£ satisfaction and to strengthen public opinion were it known that the 'House met from tim« . to time. " - Mr. Chamberlain said that this was a matter of opinion, but bis opinion was . . that the powers which the Govern* / merit already possessed were sufficient, Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal) said that in view of the possibility of grays events abroad, surely It was undesirable for the House to separate for any prolonged period. If the Premier , found himself unable to accept the sug- ■' gestion made by Mr. Grfeenwood that ' the House should meet regularly in the interval, would he at any rate agree that the House should not adjourn for > several weeks, but that it should ad-' ' journ for not more than a fortnight of for three weeks at most? Mr. Chamberlain answered that ha - ' had no reason. to suppose that if grave - ■ evefhts supervened" they should supervene in a fortnight or three weeks, or -. at any particular time. The only reasonable or sensible pourse was that the Government, which had the responsibility, should watch the course of events, and the House misht depend, upon it that the Government would , t \ exercise its powers with a, due sense of responsibility.

Further auestioned by Mr. Greeny \ wood. Mr. Chamberlain said: "I do not '-■ <; want to tie myself down to the precise' words'of a pledee, but, broadly speak- - ing. if the Government contemDlates some departure in its forelcn policy, and T understand it is foreign policy" - . which is in question, I think it would . . be an occasion for calling the House ;~ together." ' ,