BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1928, Page 5

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

I.N THE COMMONS.

MR BALDWIN’S SPEECH

(United Press Association—Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

RUGBY. Nov. G

Mr Baldwin, in the course of bis reply said the Government could not reply to the attack on their actions in regard to foreign relations until they had heard the full case of the opposition. While they had hoard Mr MacDonald they had not heard Mr Lloyd George. It would Ibo a discourtesy to the Liberal Party to attempt to deal with the criticisms in these circumstances.

Air MacDonald asked whether the Government had no statement at all to make on foreign affairs. The Prime Minister replied that the Government published a full white paper on the Anglo-Frenli Naval compromise'. They knew Infer they were to lie censured on this matter and that was the occasion on which the Government proposed to state' their case. Mr Philip Snowden, Labourite, supported the demand e»f Mr MnoDemald for the statement by the Government of foreign affairs and in the absence of such a statement, he declared it was no use proceeding with the de|bate and he therefore moved an adjournment in the House. Mr Baldwin defended the absence of the statement by pointing out that for many years the debate on the Add ross-in-Reply and the King’s speech has nearly always been ol a general character. He understood that amendments relating to matters in dispute, including one by the Liberals. wore to be moved. The Government bad been subjected to a great deal of criticism and very hard things had boon said of them in the country, and the Government desired to see what was equivalent to a vote censure moved upon them, and to observe whether the same things would he said in the House as were said in the country.

The Government had a perfect right to reserve its reply for that occasion and in those circumstances he could only congratulate Mr Snowden on going hack to the old constitutional practice of moving an adjournment of tho debate at an earlx hour, and he had pleasure in accepting it. The motion tor an adjournment was agreed to without a division and the House rose.

In the debate on the King’s speeeli in the House of Lords. Lord Salisbury, for the Government, protested against the description of the naval pact being applied to what really provisional accord was reached with the French Government, which the British Government communicated at once to all other Powers concerned. I ndoiihtedly that Naval arrangement is now at an end. It was confronted with a reception which was not at all encouraging. He greatly regretted that he did not know how the problem of disarmament was to be solved, unless there was a preliminary understanding. which would he communicated at once to other Powers interested.

A QUESTION ANSWERED. (Received this day at 11 a.m.) LONDON. November 7

]n the Commons, -Ur T hurtle* asked whether the Government would adopt the suggestion that troops parade armloss on Armistice Day.

Sir L. Worthington Evans said the troops were the living comrades of those whose deaths were being commemorated. The Army Council thought the highest military honour should he accorded, so the army parade would he in 'full dress, with arms. Mr Thurtle—“ Seeing that the wearing of arms was a violation of the spirit and purpose of the •ceremony, the absence of arms would odend none and please many, would not the War Office reconsider the matter.”

Sir L. Worthington Evans replied in the negative. Mr Baldwin’s motion that the Government should occupy private members. time till Faster was agreed to- b ] 7<l to Did votes.