BITTER ATTACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 October 1941, Page 5

BITTER ATTACK

MADE ON LORD HALIFAX IN COMMONS DEBATE ON CO-OPERATION WITH RUSSIA. MR EDEN’S EMPHATIC REPLY. LONDON, October 23. A bitter attack on Lord Halifax, Ambassador to j Washington, was made in the House of Commons during the j debate on help for Russia, by Mr. Aneurin Bevan (Labour) who accused .Lord Halifax of having given the enemy vital information. Recalling Lord Halifax’s statement that British shipping and equipment were insufficient to make an invasion of Europe possible, Mr Bevan said that the statement was made when Hitler was gathering his forces for the attack against Moscow. “How far is such a statement removed from high treason?” he asked. “At the time Lord Halifax’s, statement was made it was surely essential that Hitler should have the maximum doubts about Britain’s intentions, yet here was a member of the War Cabinet giving Hitler the information he wanted. Such behavious renders Lord Halifax unfit to occupy any office. “The time has come for a general reconstruction of the Government and reconsideration of its whole policy.” Mr W. Gallacher (Commounist) said it was impossible for the present Government, which included men holding common interests with Germany, to give 100 per cent aid to Russia. WIDESPREAD ANXIETY. Mr P. Noel Baker (Labour) declared that there was deep and widespread anxiety in Britain about the Russo-German war. “The public wants to know,” he said, “whether the Government realises the urgency of the position, that Russia is no side-show, and that this may be Hitler’s moment of greatest weakness. “The country is ready for any sacrifice to help the Russians. The Army wants to fight. The Government can count on absolute support for whatever it commands,” Mr Noel Baker said. He added: “The public would feel very happy if some part of our powerful forces 'in the Middle East could be sent up to support the Russians in the Ukraine.” Commander Stephen King-Hall (National Labour) said 'that amateur strategists were talking “fantastic nonsense about a second front.’* It would be impossible to land a force in the West till the German home front began to disintegrate, but there was an appendage called Italy which opened up possibilities. Colonel Josiah Wedgwood (Labour) said that there were at least a hundred places along the coast of Western Europe “where we could make nightly raids.” IN THE COMMON CAUSE. “I am not enamoured of the phrase ‘help for Russia,’ ” declared the Foreign Secretary, Mr Eden, replying to the debate. “That does not seem to me how we should regard the problem, which is helping to a common victory. The House knows that supplies were sent to Russia before Lord Beaverbrook went there, and also that supplies have been sent as a result of the programme agreed to there.” Referring to a suggestion by Mr Noel Baker that far greater Royal Air Force support should have been given to Russia, Mr Eden that account had to be taken of the means of transport and communications. It might well be more economical to send aircraft which the Russians could use, without sending men to use them. “Even before the outbreak of war,” said Mr Eden, “preparations had been made for supplies of raw materials to be made available to Russia.” The Government had been accused of being swayed by prejudice in its attitude toward Russia. “I roundly and absolutely deny that charge,” said Mr Eden. “There is not a syllable of truth in it.” Before ever there was an attack upon Russia, he added, Mr Churchill warned M. Stalin of the German intentions. “I did the same myself to’the Soviet Ambassador. On the day the attack on Russia took place the Prime Minister, as chairman of the Defence Committee of Cabinet, gave instructions that every possible means should be examined to give help to Russia in every sphere. SUPPLY REQUESTS MET. “What have we actually done? Lord Beaverbrook, in the name of the Government, has promised in tanks and aircraft exactly what M. Stalin asked for. With the help of’ our- very good friends in America, we are giving Russia exactly what she has asked for from us. We have sent large numbers of aircraft already, and tanks and aircraft will be delivered exactly in accordance with the terms of our pledge to Russia; “I give an undertaking that by every means in our power we are going to get those tanks and aeroplanes there,” Mr Eden concluded. “I have long held the view that between ourselves and Russia, ideologies apart, there is no reason why at any time there should be conflict of interests. I keep that view unchanged today, and in all the discus-, sions we have had the Government has been moved only by the one aim—to give all the help in its power to Russia and toward 'final victory.”