FIRST CHALLENGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 June 1942, Page 2

FIRST CHALLENGE

TO MR CHURCHILL’S WAR LEADERSHIP NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION IN COMMONS. OVERWHELMING REJECTION ANTICIPATED. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, June 25. Sir John Wardlaw-Milne (Con.) supported by twenty of the members of the House of Commons tabled a motion of which he had earlier given notice, declaring that “while having the highest admiration for the troops and their endurance, we no longer have confidence in the military direction of the war.” Sir Stafford Cripps announced that a debate on the motion would be held on the second and third days- of the next series of sittings, when he hoped Mr Churchill would speak. The motion is Mr Churchill’s first direct no-confidence challenge since he became Prime Minister. Government supporters believe that the motion will be overwhelmingly defeated. They feel that recent rumours have been exaggerated to the world regarding the strength of the Government’s critics in the House of Commons and therefore will welcome a vote because it will reduce the position to definite numbers. A prominent point in the debate probably will be whether Mr Churchill should hand over the Ministry of Defence portfolio. Mr Charles Taylor Gates will table an amendment to the no-confidence motion declaring that the House has confidence in the Government and in the general war direction, but suggesting that in all operations in which more than one fighting Services is engaged the principle of cooperation between the services should be replaced by the principle of a unified command, and that the future training of all the Services should be modelled on this basis. Independent Labour members also intend to table a no-confidence motion, but it' is unlikely that any but Sir John 'Wardlaw-Milne’s will be called.