BRITISH DEBATE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1933, Page 5

BRITISH DEBATE

ON DISARMAMENT

GERMANY AND NATIONS LEAGUE. (United Pres* Association—By lEiectrn 'Jeiegraph— Copyright.; / LONDON, November 13. To-night’s sitting ot tne Commons was devoted to a debate. on disannment. Tne debate was heard by: a crowded house. 1 P The discussion arose out of a vota of censure moved by the Opposition, in order to ventilate the proposals adopted at the Labour party conference. The motion was submitted, by Mr Morgan Jones, who after contending that the strong desire of the British people for an international agreement for disarmament, had not been reflected in the Government’s policy at Geneva, said lie cordially, admitted the draft convention put forward at the Conference by this ( country was the first definite scheme to be produced and although: it was not so advanced as he could have desired, it was one worthy of full discussion. Mr Morgan Jones’ speech was marked by heated accusations, denials and interruptions. He declared that | last year’s Far East events profound- 1 ly influenced the world attitude towards disarmament,-,--“Japan was en. couraged,-•!- will not say deliberately, but certainly,*i, inferentially, by the present Government, and also by some Conservative leaders’ speeches,” he said.

Lady-Astor asked for names. Mr Jones replied: “Mr Leopold Amery’s and Sir Austen Chamberlain’s speeches deliberately' encouraged Japan.” Sir Austen Chamberlain rose and warmly protested that while pointing out Japan’s difficulties, he hade outspokenly condemned her policy, ~; • Mr Jones refused to withdraw his remarks, and said the - failure of disarmament negotiations' lay heavily at. Sir John Simon’s .door., Mr. Ramsay MacDonad followed and said that half the contents of the vote of censure had been borrowed from the. Draft Convention; The convention had not been abandoned. It-remained the basis of the Geneva deliberations. If disarmament, were to be attained, there must be an.international agreement. “We ask Germany to come in' "not at the end, but now,” he said. “We waut Germany to be its own -representative, and OWJI spokesman: Whatever form these conversations may take, it cannot involve any Weakening -of our loyalty to the League of -Nations, nor any diminution of its status Or' afithoi'itjp The Gei’mrin withdrawal unquestionably has greatly complicated the Work of the conference, and necessarily involved consideration of ways and nieans and methods. It would ho quite unpardonable to ask the Government now, and to-day, its views of all these questions.” No Government added the Prime Minister, could compel any other Government to accept risks at believed were too great. Britain could not extend her international commitments as the price which might be asked for in the interests of an agreement. 'The Liberal leader (Sir Herbert Samuel), the next speaker, said he agreed with Lord Cecil that the Government’s actions throughout were in- - adequate, marked by lack of energy and postponement of vital issues. The French demand for security should have been met by effective control, supervision and inspection of armaments. Nothing was more likely to alienate the Dominions than that Britain should, in any degree abandon the League. Despite Hitlerism, proposals should be made to Germany which the enlightened- - opinion of Britais, the Dominions ’ and America could approve, and which could reasonably he expected that Germany would accept.

Commander Wedgewood (Independent) said that no concession would change the present ruling spirit in Germany. Nothing would stop her rearming. She had already rearmed and only needed aeroplanes', great guns and tanks. Her only obstacle was lack of monev. For the first time

England fpared another war. That

was why Fulham went over. The rest of the country would follow. The fear k of being under the present German Frankenstein was greater than the T fear of being under the Kaiser’s heel. ; f Our inviolable sea frontier had gone We should not waste time taking disarmament, but know what the' Government meant to do, and how'far it intended to allow Germany to go in the exercise of force and defying of treaties. WILL LIBERALS CHANGE OVER. .. LONDON, November 14. > ' The political correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says: “There is a strongly impression in the lobbies that Sir Herbert Samuel and his Liberals are about to cross the floor of the House of Commons and to.join the Opposition. A meeting of the Samuelite Liberals will be held to-day to consider the matter. ' "'X " /“BRITAIN’S FAILURE TO LEAD.” HUGE INCREASE IN ARMS OORT KT . LONDON, November 1-1. In the House of Commons, the chairman of the Disarmament Conference; Rt. Horn Arthur Henderson, in