WAR DEBATE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 April 1941, Page 6

WAR DEBATE

IN HOUSE OF COMMONS MR CHURCHILL’S VIEW. MATTER FOR GOVERNMENT TO DECIDE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. April 24. When the question of a debate on the. war situation was again raised in the House of Commons today the Prime Minister, Mr Churchill, said: “I venture to suggest that the precise moment is one for the Government to decide and I am confident the House will be willing to leave the matter in its hands. Members may rest assured that they will be given information as soon as I am in a position to do so. A serious responsibility rests on the Government in taking any course or making any statement which might prejudice the success of the British, Australian, New Zealand or Greek soldiers who are at the present time in close contact with the enemy. Mr Churchill also dealt with a suggestion of simultaneous debate in the Commons and the Australian House of Representatives. “It would be an innovation for us to adopt the position that if a debate took place in Australia we must necessarily have a debate here, and in a sense that would be an intrusion into the independent rights of Government under the Statute of Westminster,” he said. “At the same time it would bo an obvious inconvenience for any debate on these matters to take place piecemeal. We are in very close touch with the Dominions Ministers,, not only of Australia, but also in New Zealand. Canada, and South Africa. Certainly an effort , will be made as far as possible without the slightest prejudice of independent action to arrange these debates. “I have asked when the Australian Parliament is likely to meet, and according to information I received just before entering the House, it is unlikely to assemble before the first week in May, and a debate would not take place before then. I give that information with reserve.” BROADCAST ADDRESS MR CHURCHILL TO SPEAK TOMORROW EVENING. Mr Churchill will give a broadcast address on Sunday at 9 p.m. British summer time, the 8.8. C. reports.