A HEATED DEBATE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 689, 15 November 1933, Page 5

A HEATED DEBATE

(British. Official Wireless.)

rOUNTRY ANXIOUS TO LEARN ' GOVERNMENT' S POLICY fears of germany

Rugby, November 13. To-night's sitting of the House of Commons was devoted to a debate on disarmament. _ discussion arose out of the vote of censure moved by the OpTjosition in order to ventilate the proposals adopted by the Labour Party's conference. The motion was submitted by Mr. Horgan Jones who after contending that°the strong desire of the British people for an international agreement ori disarmament had not been reflected in the Govermment's policy at Geneva, said be cordially admitted tjiat the draft eonvention put forWard at the conference by this country was the first definite seheme to jje produced and although it was not s0 advanced as he could bave desired, 5t was one worthy of full discussion. His speech was marked by heated accusations, d'enials and interruptions. He declared that last year's events in the Far East had profoundly influenced the world's attitude towards disarmament. Japan was encouraged will not say deliberately bnt certainly inferentially— by the present Government and also by some Conservative Leaders' speeches." Borrowed Thunder Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, who remarked that half the contents of the vote of censure had been borrowed from the draft eonvention said the eonvention had not been abandoned and remained the basis of the Geneva deliberations. If disarmjament Were to be attained th'ere must be an international agreement. He declared: ''W'e ask Germany to come in, not at the end but now. We want Germany to be her own representative and her own' spokesman. Wihatever form these conversations may takc it cannot involve any weakening of our loyalty to the League of Nation? nor any diminution of its status or authority. Germany's withdrawal unquestionaly greatly complicated the work of the conference and necessarily involved consideration of •ways and means and methods. It would be quite unpardonable to ask the Government now, and to-day, its views of all these questions." Coercion Impossible No Government, added the Prime Minister, could compel any other Government to aecept risks it believed were too great. Britain could not extend her international commitments as the price which might be asked for the interests of agreement. Lady Astor asked for names. Mr. Jones replied: Both of Mr. 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 had outspokenly condemned her policy. Mr. Jones refused to withdraw his l-emarks, and said the failure of the Disarmament Conference lay heavily at Sir John Simon's door.