THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 14, 1940.
Keen Debate On Finland In The Commons
POINTED QUESTIONS BY MR. HORE-BELISHA
PRIME MINISTER PARRIES CRITICISMS
London, To-day.
DURING A DISCUSSION in the House of Commons yesterday on the Finnish surrender, Mr. C. R. Attlee, Labour Opposition leader, said all were agreed in admiration of Finland's struggle, and while all were relieved that the slaughter had been stopped, all deeply regretted the success of aggression (Loud cheers).
Mr. Attlee added that Britain should render Finland all the assistance possible to repair the damages of this "unprovoked attack.”
Mr. Hore-Belisha said he associated himself with the ex-
pressions of sympathy with Finland.
He asked was it not a pity in relation to the magni- tude of these events and their far-reaching char- acter, for the Allies to plead as an excuse for in- action a pure technicality (Ministerial protest).
Mr. Hore-Belisha. asked for an op- portunity, for a debate "in the light of these events of the whole conduct of the Government.
The Prime Minister, interjecting, said: "It is not correct that repeated requests for men have been made by the Finnish Government. The Fin- nish Government have made repeated requests for materials and every one has been answered.
"The Finnish" "Government were informed as long ago as February 25 that if they were to make an ́appeal' toʻ, us, we were prepared and were making preparations to send 'men' as well as materiais.
"In the circumstances in which they found themselves they decided not to make such an appeal."
HOW MUCH AID?
Mr. Hore-Belisha asked the Prime Minister to confirm the French Pre- mier's statement that an expedition- ary force of 50,000 French soldiers
and still more British troops... ... were actually ready.
SECRET SESSION SOUGHT
FINLAND SHOWS DISPLEASURE
Helsinki, To-day.
It is officially confirmed that the Ministers of Defence and Education resigned because they could not associate themselves. with the Government on the question of peace.
་
The Helsinki newspapers ́yer- terday afternoon · appeared with. doop black borders surrounding the peace terms-Reuter.
ESCAPED NAZIS RECAPTURED
were
Dar-es-Salaam, To-day. Two Nazis who
active in Tanganyika before the war have been re-captured following their escape
from an internment camp...
They had made their way through 200 miles of wild country and were only 15 miles from Portuguese Africa when captured.
One of them had been the leader. of the Nazl. Bund before. the war In Tanganyika (formerly German East Africa).-Reuter.
"HAVE DONE ALL ENDURANCE AND BRAVERY COULD DO"
London, To-day.
LORD SNELL (LABOUR) said in the House of Lords yesterday: "Your Lordships will have heard the Foreign Secretary's statement on Finland with mixed feelings first a feeling of satisfaction that the physical agony of a small and almost miraculous little people has now ended, second- ly with regret that the spiritual injuries they have received will endure, that right once more has been defeated and wrong once more has triumphed in the world
Ha moshi S
He asked further whether this force promised to Finland had any re- tions that had the effect of causing concerned they may strictions placed on its use-restric- "So far as ...---` the Finnish people... are else what were the limitations im- Finland to believe It was inadequate the sympathy of all free peoples of to repel the Russian aggression.
"Mr. Chamberlain said he had endeavoured to obtain an accurate account of what the French Pre- mler had said, and until he re- ceived it he would prefer not to comment.
take comfort in posed by their own situation.
“Having" reached those decisions" "It the world.
would not Have been possible for Bri- "They have done all bravery and tain or France to have overridden endurance could do. They have set a them. To fiave proceeded in the face. new standard of resistance against of the protests of Sweden and Nor overwhelming odds and have written way would been a gross breach of a page in history that will be read their neutrality and a clear infraction with wonder through generations yet of international law."-British Wire-
less. to come.
“We can only acknowledge and ad-
Mr. Harold McMillan (Cons) ask-!| ed for a secret sitting to discuss the Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal) as-conduct of the matter, but Mr. Cham-mire their indomitable courage and sociated himself with "the condemna-berlain replied he could not discuss tion of this successful aggression, and across the floor of the House,
M. Ivan Maisky, the Soviet Am- asked whether the published details
of the material assistance sent to bassador, left the Diplomatic Gallery
grieve with them in their defeat.
"It must be a proud day for the Russian Empire," continued Lord Snell sarcastically, "with their 180 million
Finland were accepted by the Gov- at the end of the supplementary ques-of people to celebrate the success of ernment. He suggested they were tions.-Reuter.
grossly exaggerated:
Mr. Chamberlain said he could take no responsibility for newe-“ paper figures. He pointed out that the Government had not made a complete statement 05 to the amount of "assistance given Ein- land.
Finland...
EMPIRE AND THE WAR
New York, To-day.
There would be a distinction be- tween what was sent and what had arrived. because it took some.: con-. Under the headline "British Domin- siderable time for material to reach lons show unity of purpose to end rule of aggression," the "New York "The overwhelming mass of people Post" declares: "According to present in this country are of the opinion indications contributions from British that Stalin and his Nazi bureaucracy possessions wil greatly exceed what have brought down on themselves the loathing and contempt of every decent the British Empire was able to con-
tribute in the last war."
man" said Mr. J. McGovern, Inde-The co-operation between England pendent · Labour Party member, in
and the Dominions is greater than the discussion.
ever before." Reuter.
NO. THREATS
Mr. Arthur Henderson (Labour)'
their attack upon a population which is less than that which resides within the area of the London County Coun- cil.
I will not comment on the other Scandinavian nations but I feel sure that if the day of their own trial comes the events of recent weeks and months will not be forgotten."
SAMUEL SPEECH.
Lord Samuel found consolatory sa- tisfaction in the fact the Soviets had been unable to impose any political terms on Finland.
“The claim that the workers, "of ''Finland, were only too eager to, wal- come Soviet Intervention has been refuted by the gallantry of the Fin nish people themselves, who have Infiloted appalling fosses upon the
· Russian, troops.
"The Finnish Foreign Minister, this afternoon, according to reports Jus received, attributed the disaster which
asked Mr. Chamberlain to make if MOSCOW CELEBRATES has fallen on his country to the de- quite clear that His Majesty's Goy- ernment had at no time threatened to violate the neutrality of Sweden and Norway
Mr. Chamberlain replied: “Cer- tainly, at no time did we threaten to do so."!
Moscow,
"The Government in celebrat acceptance of its terms by 1
|a "great contribution to world
and as, a blow to Great Britain Reuter.
cisions which had been reaches Governments of Sweden, and No not to permit the passage the Allies.
troops of
"It not for us to criticise, even to comment, upon those decisions. countring know
than
ITS ALL ABOUT MEN! Star-crowded hit play that puts women' under the microscope—and tells! and tells! and tells!
NORMA
JOAN
SHEARER CRAWFORD
ROSALIND RUSSELL
Women
Mary BOLAND · Paufatte (HODDARD". Phyllis POYAN tuan FONTAINES, Virginkan WEIDLER /Luolle.WATSON
TO MORROW
AT THE
QUEEN'S