FIRST LORD’S SPEECH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 May 1940, Page 5

FIRST LORD’S SPEECH

i SOME FRANK ADMISSIONS i — 5 WHY THE ALLIES MUST WAIT. VITAL FACTOR OF AIR STRENGTH. In his speech Mr Churchill said that in this war it was being asked why we did not take the initiative, why we waited to see where the enemy blows would be struck next and why we did not strike first, Daventry reports. The reason for this was one that could not be removed speedily—it was that we had failed, in the last five years, to reach air parity with Germany. Mr Churchill said that any attempt by the Fleet to blockade the Skagerrak would have been too costly, on account of German air superiority. The Government had therefore adopted the submarine blockade as the only method at its disposal. It might have been possible to attack Trondheim, with naval forces but the cost would have been disproportional to the advantages gained. MAJORITY OF 81 RESULT OF THE DIVISION. ' OPPOSING SHOUTS IN HOUSE OF COMMONS The Chamberlain Government emerged with a majority of 81, Daventry reports. The voting was: For the Government 281; against 200. This unusually low majority was greeted with a storm of shouts from the . Opposition benches and repeated calls to resign. This was countered by lusty cheers from Government supporters.