“FEW SATISFIED”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 January 1942, Page 4

“FEW SATISFIED”

BRITISH WAR POLICY COMMONS DEBATE. MORE CRITICISM BY MEMBERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON. January 28. In the House of Commons war debate, Mr Attlee formally moved Mr Churchill’s confidence motion. Sir S. S. Wardlaw-Milne (Conservative) said it was essential at this critical and vital time that it should be made perfectly clear to the whole world that the British were of one mind and behind this or any other Government which would fight the war to a finish. It was unfortunate that this vote of confidence might give the impression that the House of Commons was thoroughly satisfied with the present Government and every member of it. “I am afraid,” he said, “that there are very few persons in the House of Commons who could say that is true and still fewer people in Britain." He said the country had been misled and treated to childish inconsistency and inaccurate statements. It was entitled to know why. The House of Commons was tremendously proud of Mr Churchill but was afraid he was carrying a burden beyond the power of any one man. Mr E. Shinwell (Labour) suggested two votes of confidence, one in Mr Churchill and one in the Government. He said questions had been asked for months about Japan’s war preparations but they had been fobbed off by assurances that the Government had the situation in hand. It alleged that it had been compelled to deprive the Far East of supplies as the result of Russian commitments. It was doubtful if Russia had been sent one thousand each of planes, tanks and guns. If the Government declarations about output were accurate these quantities were small in relation to the vast needs of their Allies. Clearly it was not owing to Russia’s demands that gallant men were compelled to endure so much in Hong Kong and Malaya.