ADJOURNMENT OPPOSED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 August 1939, Page 8

ADJOURNMENT OPPOSED

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS Mr Chamberlain Secures Vote of Confidence LABOUR AMENDMENT REJECTED THOUGH SUPPORTED BY LIBERALS AND SOME CONSERVATIVES (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) RUGBY, August 2. A declaration, that Britain is now ready for any emergency was made by the Prime Minister (Air N. Chamberlain), in moving in the House of Commons a resolution providing for an adjournment on Friday until October 3, with provision for an earlier summoning of Parliament if it became desirable in the public interest. The Premier said emergency legislation in connection with the international situation had interfered with the Government’s ordinary legislative programme for the session, and for that reason the Government was under the necessity of calling Parliament together sooner than usual in the autumn. He proceeded to declare, amid ironical Opposition cheers, prompted by newspaper speculation on the possibility of a general election in November, that the date of reassembly would both enable the programme of the present session to be completed and enable a good start with a new legislative programme. Mr Chamberlain said the Government had no information at present which led it to suppose that it would be necessary to summon the House at any particular moment in a fortnight or three weeks. Finally, the Premier assured Air A. Greenwood (Labour) that if the Government were contemplating any important departure from its declared policy, then it would think it right to give the House an opportunity of expressing its opinion, without waiting for the date of the resumption of Parliament. Air A. Greenwood moved an amendment providing that the House reassemble on August 21. Air Greenwood based his case on. the uncertain international situation, mentioning the Aloscow negotiations, the situation in Danzig, the Anglo-Polish financial discussions and the position in the Far East, but he admitted that his amendment was prompted by distrust of the Government.

Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal Leader) and Air Winston Churchill (Con) supported the amendment. A Press Association cablegram reports Air Churchill as stating that there were heavy concentrations of German troops at present along the Polish frontier, including five German divisions around Breslau alone. The roads to Poland through Czechoslovakia had been brought to perfection by forced Czech labour. Many schools and public buildings in Bohemia were prepared in readiness to accommodate wounded. Ahigoslavia was another danger spot.

Sir W. 11. Davison (Con) said Britain, with her Dominions and allies, was well able to give a good account of herself. Air J. R. IT. Cartland, a Conservative member for Birmingham. said Air Chamberlain’s speech made it difficult for his supporters to combat an impression that the Prime. Minister aimed at dictatorship within months. “We may fight and die,” he said, “yet we cannot understand why Air Chamberlain has not made a great gesture for national unity to show his faith in democratic institutions.”

Sir P. J. 11. Hannon jumped up. on behalf of other Birmingham members, and apologised for Air Gartland’s language. Mr Chamberlain demanded that the vote be treated as one of confidence. He said all Air Churchill’s arguments were based on the theory that if Parliament were sitting the danger would be minimised. Yet Vienna and Prague were occupied during a session of Parliament. Air Greenwood’s amendment had no basis except distrust, the Prime Minister said adding: “I confidently expect my friends to reject it.” The amendment was defeated by 250 votes to 122.