THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 29, 1941,
COMMONS APPROVE CLOSING OF "DAILY WORKER"
BEFORE RISING yesterday the House of Commons carried by 323 votes to six an omendment giving its approval to the action of the Home Secretary in suppressing the Communist "Daily Worker” and passed the amended motion.
Supporters of the original motion, which expressed detestation of the propaganda of the "Daily Worker" but regretted Govern- ment had chosen to suppress it under the De- fence Regulations rather than prosecute it, urged that in taking action against the news- paper under one of the Regulations, which had been justified to the House on the sole ground that they might be needed in circum- stances of direct peril arising out of physical invasion, the Home Secretary is creating an undesirable precedent which might under- mine confidence in the freedom of the press.
It was also argued that suppres- sion might have a dangerous re- sult in foreing into furtive and clandestine channels the dessem- ination of views ventilated in the "Daily Worker," which in that way might cause greater disaffec- tion than if treated with the con- tempt they deserved.
In
moving the amendment, which was carried. Mr. Lee-Smith for the Labour Party said he ap- proved the action of the Home Se- cretary on the simple instinctive ground that he believed the object; of the "Daily Worker" was to slow down the country's war produc-) tion,
He was supported by Sir Percy Haris for the Liberals who stress-
ed the need for care in the use of emergency powers which musi
disappear immediately the war is
ended.
Only defenders which the "Daily Worker" itself found in the House were the single Communist mem- ber, Mr. Gallacher, and a Labour member, Mr. D. N. Pritt.
Snivelling Hypocrisy
The Home Secretary, Mr. Her- bert Morrison, was cheered when he declared: "The Communist Party is the last party on earth to claim the privileges of Demo. cratic rights. They do not be. lieve in Democracy.
REJECTED
BY ARMY
--HERO
Rejected by the Army and registered as Grade III because he stone deaf in one ear, a man has just been awarded one of the highest honours that can be won by a civilian.
He is Auxiliary Fireman Lewis Jack Watts, aged twenty-four, of Bath Road, Bristol, who has been) awarded the George Medal.
During a recent fire in which Bristol firemen were engaged, Watts alone held back an ad- yancing wall of flame with one hose until more water could be brought up.
By staying at his post he gave his comrades time to save them. selves by rushing back out of the reach of the flamea to a fresh supply of water.
Felt Ashamed
"Mr. Callacher as a Communist cannot believe in Democracy, For him and his political friends it is an outworn political creed of the nineteenth century and it is sheer nonsense, sheer snivelling hypo- crisy for the Communist Party to talk of
the rights of Democracy always carry my medical card to and to demand judical processes." show people, who tell me I ought As to why he took prompt ac- to be a soldier," he told a re- tion Mr. Morrison said that look-porter.
ing ahead he thought it was high- ly probable there would be trou ble between the Home Secretary and this newspaper. He asked if it was wise in these circumstances to wait until damage was done. The promoters were assiduously doing damage and undermining
moral.
r
Lesson Of Germany He came to the conclusion that it would not be wise to wait until damage was done but far better to anticipate it.
Those who opposed his action should" fearn the lesson of Re- publican Germany under the Weimar Constitution. He had learned it and he was applying it.
"I was rather ashamed when the
Army turned me down.
"It seems funny that I should have won a decoration when ! thought there was little hope of my making good owing to my disability."
While he was on duty at a fre his leg was injured and he was taken to hospital, where he re- mained for several weeks, under- going a minor operation. He did not know at the time that his wife, who is expecting her first alone at their home. baby, had been bombed while
a boy and not a girl, as he thinks "Lewis hopes our baby will he
the will appreciate
medal more." Mrs. Watts said.
he
THEFT FROM CAR
The fact must be faced that ́in Mr. R. A. Wickerson, of No. 1, conditions of war or crisis some-Chatham Path, has reported the thing had got to give way in the theft of a rain coat and a pair ordinary safeguards of liberty or of gloves to the value of $38, from liberty itself would be entirely his car, which was parked in destroyed by the foes of liberty.
Jackson Road yesterday.
He did not like suppressing any newspaper but this publication
had become a public scandal. Ac-|-
·tion was · ` regretfullý takén and gency Powers had been against there was no question of his or his Fascists, on the one hand, and colleagues** wishing to prevent these Communists papers on the press criticism of the Government, |other. That was a remarkable "The country had been going record and teallmony of the through most critical times, yet strength of a Democracy.British the only exercise of-the - Emer--| Wireless -
тя бл
A CLOCK IS MUCH NICER!
Kidderminster, Worces- tershire, has a new school.
And because the school is to be used by boys and girls, the archi- tects thought an appropriate sym- hal would be the figures of a boy and a girl carved on the walls
And they decided to do the job proud. They put up two figures in the Epstein style nude figures, too.
But the Education Committez weren't standing for that. Agures are to come down.
See
The
That was easy. It was more difficult to think of something
to put in their place. Then someone had an inspiration, Why not strike quite a new note and have a big clock? Much more suitable.
Says the chairman of the com- mittee, Mr. Harry Cheshire; "I nothing wrong with the figures, and wish they could ce main," Say the crities: "One figure looks deformed, and the other like an imbecile."
NOT RUNNING AWAY: ATTLEE
Mr. C. R. Attlee. Lord Privy Seal, referred in a speech at Pon- typool, South Wales, to the bomb- ing of Whitehall. Mr. Attlee said, amidst applause, "We are not going to run away.'
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