HELP FOR RUSSIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 October 1941, Page 6

HELP FOR RUSSIA

LABOUR MEMBER TABLES QUESTIONS MIGHT LEAD TO GENERAL DEBATE. UNEASINESS OF BRITISH

PUBLIC. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, October 10. Requesting an immediate answer Mr E. Shinwell (Lab., Seaham) has tabled in the House of Commons a series of questions on aid to Russia. This may lead to a general debate, bringing, to a head the uneasiness of the British public about the weight and value of British efforts to help her most valuable ally. The Soviet Union is in desperate danger, says the “News-Chronicle.” The Germans already have won a colossal victory. From the wreckage of the battlefield Marshal Timoshenko may be able to salvage enough to reestablish himself farther back, gravely weakened but not destroyed, but suppose the worst happens what will the man in the street say? This is what he will say. ‘For three and a half months Britain never raised a finger on sea or land to help the greatest ally we had. The only effort we made was in the air and that petered out, for reasons beyond our control.’ It will be said, ‘a rare and heaven-sent opportunity was missed, not merely to help Russia but to help ourselves.’ With our overwhelming strength at sea, our massive force of fighter planes, bombers and tanks and 750,000 well-armed men in the Middle East, do we still have to stand on the defensive everywhere and let the moment slip? It will never return. BOLDNESS WITHIN REASON. COMMENT BY “THE TIMES.” (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 10. Anxiety about the Russian situation continues to be expressed in the British Press. “The Times” says: “It is well that the Government should be aware of the feeling throughout the country, in favour of the greatest possible boldness within the bounds of reason, yet it must be evident that we should serve the cause of Russia very little, even temporarily, and actually do it irretrievable damage in the long run if we allowed ourselves to be rushed into impractical ventures. MOVE REJECTED PROHIBITION OF AID TO RUSSIA. WASHINGTON, October 10. The House of Repreesntatives rejected by 162 votes to 21 an amendment by isolationists seeking to prohibit any lend-lease aid to Russia.