WAR DEBATE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1942, Page 3

WAR DEBATE

OPENED IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS MR ATTLEE’S DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT FAR EASTERN PROBLEMS. OUTLOOK IN THE PACIFIC & EUROPE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, May 19. The debate on the war situation was opened in the House of Commons today by the deputy Prime Minister, Mr Attlee. It was obviously impossible, said Mr Attlee, for adequate forces to be stationed in every part of the Far East, and it would be equally unsound to concentrate on one area before the Japanese revealed their main objective. Britain could only hold on till she regained her strength in the air, on land and on the sea. Britain was doing all in her power to strengthen the defences of India and reinforcements had been sent to Ceylon. Referring to the Battle of the Coral Sea, Mr Attlee said that it had been a severe check to the Japanese. Dealing with Australia, he said that because America had undertaken responsibility for the operations there, that did not mean that Britain was indifferent to Australia's fate. Mr Attlee added that Britain was keeping up aid to Russia, though it was not very easy. As regards a second front in Europe, he said he was sure “this possibility is in our minds and in the minds of the German High Command.”

“We must reinforce Australia,” Mr Attlee said. “Time is the essence of this contract and we are ready, when the need arises, to run any risks in other areas for the defence of Australia. Strength has been steadily piling up in Australia in recent months and if the Japanese risk an attack against Australia they will get an extremely warm reception.”