COMMONS DEBATE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 April 1939, Page 6

COMMONS DEBATE

mr eden Defines object AIMED AT BASIS FOR NEGOTIATIONS • NEEDED. RESPECT FOR ENGAGEMENTS ESSENTIAL. .(Received This Day, .12.50 p.m.) LONDON, April 13.. In the House of Commons debate Mi - Anthony Eden said:. “The object is not encirclement, but the provision of an organisation affording a basis for negotiations. There is nd hope of bettering the situation until respect for international engagements is restored.” This was a formidable task, Mr Eden added, but the policy that the House of Commons had already endorsed was the only one ■by which it could be achieved. Mr Oliver Stanley said he had decided immediately to enforce a provisional scheme for the insurance of cargoes to and from the United Kingdom against war rasks. The scheme j is intended to prevent an increase L*T insurance rates. Mediterranean cargo insurance has been increased from 10s to 40s per cent. OPPOSITION VIEWS MR ATTLEE CRITICISES PREMIER. SUGGESTIONS BY LIBERAL LEADER. (BrltteH .Official Wireless.) (■Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) RUGBY, April 13. - The Leader of the. Opposition (Mr C. R. Attlee) who followed Mr Chamberlain, expressed disappointment .that Mr Chamberlain had not more clearly disassociated himself from his former policy of trusting the dictators, which had been proved mistaken. Mr Attlee thought .the rape of Albania was to the Anglo-Italian agreement what the destruction of Czechoslovakia was to the Munich, declaration. Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal Leader) was doubtful if the Government was bestirring itself sufficiently at a time when it should be moving quickly and resolutely to build up a general system of collective security. He also urged the necessity for a Ministry of Supply and was anxious to see a closer approach to Russia. Mr Winston Churchill joined in welcoming the assurances to Greece and Rumania butrnaintained that the essence of policy in building up alliances against an aggressor was speed and vigour. He entered a plea for compulsory service. Mr George Lnnsbury asked what guarantee there was. if once more Europe was plunged into war, that masses of young men would not again have to give their fives in an adventure which .led nowhere.