BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1929, Page 5

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

COMMONS DEBATE

HON W. CHURCHILL

(United; Press Association -By Electric Telegraph-^Copyright).

, . LONDON, Juy 3. , Mr Winston Church ill in the House of Cbfnmons stated that the Government were going to try this moderate scheme of public works., Though these had not showed much prospect of affecting unemployment, they contained many' points, from the viewpoint of Empire and domestic development. - which the opposition would not oppose. Ho looked forward to hearing Mr Phillip-Snowden defend new reparations settlement. If ho could persuade the French; to pay more and the Americans to take less, Mr Snowden would receive his congratulations, but it would be odd if Mr Snowden’s first important act was to defend the European settlement made, leafring Britain worse off than when Mr Snowdon described the position as scandalous. He reiterated Mr Bahhvin’s demand that the Government should provide a week in January or February, for a ddbate on a; confidence motion. If the Government, repealed the McKennaduties, he said it would be from a political, not from a financial

motive. 'lt...would,be extremely, wanton and cruel to make workers in importaiit industries a mere pawn to party politics. Mr Churchill said he warned the Government that the moment that they attempted to put into practice “ the fundamental vices and fallacies on; which' the labour party had been built up” they - would be .“swept from office.”

MR LLOYD GEORGE. . •/'Y LONDON, July 4.. Mr Lloyd. George in the address-in-rcply said there was a .gOod deal of confusion about the actual unemploy-ment-proposals. If the Liberals were satisfied that the Government were in earnest in their, endeavour to overcome the electoral wrongs, the Liberals must assist .them to overcome the innumerable Parliamentary ; difficulties 4, with which they were confronted; but if they ; found the Government trifling with this, subject, merely to gain time ;• until it suited them, to go to the coun- ; • try again under the old conditions, a ./ suspicion would inevitably be engendered, which would be fatal to tlie usefulness,, of, the Government. The . i new Government’s policy with mines, lie said, -was 'the same as he had offered in; 1919, wliich the Lab- <•' qur Party and trade unionists then f* 1 He warned Mr R. MacDon.aid that there was a danger of wound- - A >ng susceptibilities and arousing suspicions with America. / Nevertheless, '' ' he said, President Hoover was hot a' man to enter a conference without, a -firm determiation to make a success * ■ of it. Mr Lloyd George said Mr Thomas’s road proposal were “like a blurred copy of the liheral book on the -subJ . jeet.” ■ ■

The debate was adjourned.

IN THE COMMONS I*' ' * ' '' , '* l . v

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received this day at 12.25. p:m.) . • RUGBY, July 5.

Answering questions in the Commons to-day regarding the resumption of diplomatic relations with Russia, the Foreign Secretary (Rt. Hon. A. Henderson) said he could say no more at present than that the Government were in communication with the Dominions Governments on the subject, but he hoped to be able to make a statement at an early date. An undertaking had been given at the Imperial Conference that the British Government would not resume negotiations or normal relations with Russia without acquainting the Dominions. He added: “That is what we have done up till no\v. We shall not depart from that undertaking.”,. ■ Answering a further question on the subject, Mr Henderson said no suggestion had yet been made to the Dominion. Governments as to the conditions on which diplomatic relations with the Soviet Government should be resumed, por had the’subject been discussed with representatives of the American Government. ' The Foreign Secretary announced that the British delegates at the next meeting of the League of Nations Assembly .would be the Prime Minister and the President of the Board of Trade, Mr William Graham, for part of the time, Lord Cecil, Sir Cecil Hurst, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr H, Dalton, Mrs Swanwick, Mrs Hamilton, Phillip Baker and himself. At the Government’s request Lord Cecil would also represent Britain in the Preparatory Disarmament Commission.

LONDON, July 4. Mr Phillip Snowden, answering ques-in-the House of Commons, said ' that no representations had been made to the United States that : tariff increases must add to the difficulties of paying 'the British debt to America. .The Prime Minister’s announcements oif the Government’s intentions. in reference to safeguarding the McKenna duties, Mr Snowden, said were clear and explicit. He had nothing to add before the Budget. No representations were made to France regarding the debt to Britain. He received, experts on the subject. He was not to make a further statement pt present

Air Arthur Henderson said no suggestion had been made to the Dominions regarding a. commission for the resumption of. relations with Russia, 'flic subject was not discussed with the United States.