BRITAIN RESOLUTE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 137, 10 May 1940, Page 7

BRITAIN RESOLUTE

VICTORIOUS CAMPAIGN. PRESS REACTIONS. (British Official Wireless.) Received May 10, 10.5 a.m. . RUGBY, May 9., Newspaper comment, no.t only m Britain but in Allied and neutral countries, and even more notably in Germany itself, has been quick to realise that the real significance of the two days’ debate in the House of Commons is that an intensification of Britain’s war effort will result, Most of the foreign comment was made before the announcement of the figures of tho division. Later United States comment, however, makes it clear that the outstanding lesson of the frank and fearless discussion remains unaltered by tho result of the division. It is everywhere recognised that Britain lias braced herself for a more resolute prosecution of tho war. The New York Times observes that the British people can be relied upon to push the war with more determination than ever, and the firm fighting spirit behind all the hot words of the debate will remain, no matter what trials the nation may bo called upon to endure. There is some’ division of opinion in the British Press regarding the tactics of the Opposition in pressing the debate to a division, hut none on this major question. In all the newspapers emphasis is laid on the fact that the majority and minority alike were voting for a more intense war effort and the establishment of . the _ most effective Cabinet machinery which can be devised to meet the changing and urgent heeds.

The Times (Independent), while regarding it as unfortunate that • tho Labour Party decided to press for. a division, welcomes the opportunities which the debate offered.

“The power of adaptation is the essence of democratic capacity to wage war. It was no accident that the Democracies triumphantly survived the last war, and that the military monarchies fell. They showed themselves fully competent to choose the war leaders they needed, and no less willing—eager indeed—-to surrender to them all the authority they needed for the single aim of victory,” says the Times. “It is that power of adaptation which public opinion is now beginning to invoke with its present call for new manifestations of effective leadership in all its war activities. A free people can wring profit out of a reverse—and this country, unfortunately, is never seen at its best, bravest, and most skilful until it has encountered one. Its imagination is hardly at work until then.” CALL TO LABOUR. The Times calls attention to Mr Chamberlain’s plain invitation in his speech to Labour to take its share in the Government. If the Labour Party fails to answer the clear public call it 3 leaves Mr Chamberlain more free ‘to choose his own means of showing that the setback in Southern Norway is not merely a failure successfully extentuated, . hut a new starting point for British energy and valour. Tho Daily Telegraph (Unionist) says that what the country asks is to be firmly led and to he convinced that the greatest war effort of which the nation is capable is being marshalled and directed with unfailing efficiency and drivel The Prime Minister can provide that with the Cabinet strengthened by new blood. The News-Chronicle (Liberal) demands that Mr Chamberlain should bow to the will of the country and that a strong Government, representative of all the parties, he formed without unnecessary delay. The Daily Mail (Independent) says the demand is for Government reconstruction. and it must be met. The Daily Herald (Labour) snvs Mr Chamberlain has worked ...hard and selflessly. “He has done his best for us, but we have reached the stage at which his best' will not do.”