BRITISH POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1929, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

COMMONS DEBATE

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, February 19. In the House of Commons, in the course of a debate on the Government -supplementary estimates ol £70,000, additional to the million allotted in the past year for compensation for Irish loyalists. Air Grotton led an unexpected attack from the Conservative hack honchos, declaring the compensation was most inadequate. The Government had failede to realise its moral obligations.

Other Conservatives vehemently denounced what they termed the Government’s niggardliness. A|r Winston Churchill, replying, said the compensation fund had already been twice increased, i n response to pressure. He warned the House ol the danger of brushing aside the guardians of the public purse and overturning the considered judgment cl ( ahinet. The chorus of attacks nevertheless continued and there seemed a likelihood of an amendment being carried against the Government. Mr Baldwin then walked in and saved the situation hv securing an adjournment in order that the subject might be re-examined.

THRILL IN COMMONS. LONDON, Fob. 20. It is a long time since the House of Commons • experienced a thrill like it did last night. The Government's enormous majority has made the proceedings of the present Parliament dull in the extreme, hut a most exciting moment came when the House realised that the Government for the first* time in its career was in real danger. Air Baldwin quickly sized up the strength of the storm, and promised iliai. tile grievances of the -Irish loyalists would receive consideration. Alter this the lobbies were most animated. lhe opinion is unanimous that the Government, in the event of a division, would have been humiliated by the smallest majority, if not defeated. Alenihers are intrigued at Air Baldwin’s action in throwing over Mr Churchill, who afterwards left the House with a Mushed face amid derisive cheers. The crisis arose in the House when, after Air Churchill had resisted oil me grounds of economy, Lord Hugh lmil scornfully retorted that economy did not mean a refusal to pay a debt of honour. STATEMENTS IN COMMONS. this day at 12.25. p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 20. Questioned in the Commons to-day, Sir A. Chamberlain stated that the Government had no intention ol issuing an invitation to a new conference on naval armament. All questions concerning British, relations with America and the naval conditions ol the two countries were under consideration by the Government. He was unable to make any statement until that enquiry was concluded. An examination of these questions was being diligently prosecuted. As soon as it was concluded, the first step would he to communicate its results to the Governments of the Dominions and receive and consider their views.

In regard to the statement by the British Ambassador at A\ ashington regarding further negotiations on naval armaments (Sir A. Chamberlain said the statement was not made on the instruction of the British Government.

Asked whether lie was aware that the statement of the Ambassador and subsequent statement by the Foreign Oflice had caused misunderstandings to arise in America, Sir Austen said there was no contradiction between the statements. The statement made by tile Foreign Office was a correction of a mistaken inference, drawn from a statement by the Ambassador in Washington. Explaining the circumstances in which the statement was made by the Ambassador, Sir A. Chamberlain said the Ambassador on being approached by representatives of the press for his views on the possibility of renewal of discussions on the limitation of naval armaments, gave iiis personal opinion as to the possible course of events. In no part of his statement did lie indicate immediate developments were likely, although erroneous deductions in this sense seemed to have been drawn from his remarks by certain sections of the press.

Sir A. Chamberlain denied the statement attributed to the Afghan Ambassador in Turkey, that British aircraft other than those engaged in the evacuation of foreigners- from Kabul were daily flying over Afghanistan. He added that those aircraft were flying with the full consent of the defence authorities in Kabul. Asked hv whom the British policy in Al'ghaiiistant was being determined, Sir A. Chamberlain said its direction rested with the 'Government in this country. The Government sought the advice of the Government of India and of their Minister at Kabul. Answering a further question, the Foreign Secretary said no foreign legation had been withdrawn from Kabul. He understood that King AmamiUah had expressed a willingness to receive foreign diplomatic representative's at Kandahar hut so ter its he was aware, no member of the diplnintic body at Kabul had accepted this invitation. The British Government did not propose to move their mission to Kandahar. In the Commons. Mr Wedgewnnd inquired whether negotiations tor a renewed Anglo Arbitration Treaty cm-

braced a mutual agreement mi the subject of freedom of the seas* Sir A. Chamberlain said l• 11 it c*d States Arbitration proposals were being considered and tin* Dominions were being consulted. Until this was completed there could be no further statement.