MR. MORRISON'S CAUSTIC ATTACK ON A.R.P. WEAKNESS London's A.A. Guns: Hore-Belisha "War Museum"
Sir Samuel Hoare Defends Steps Taken
London, To-day.
CENSURE MARSHALLING
MOTION DEFEATED
London, To-day.
The House of Commons last night defeated the Labour motion of censure in connexion with the Government's defence plans, by 355 votes to 130,-Reuter.
FORCES OVER PALESTINE
Jerusalem, To-day.
With the departure yesterday of Menachem Ussishkin, who is presi- dent of the Zionist Council meeting He congratulated Sir John An-in London on November 11, most derson on his appointment, and as-
The country is gravely unprepared and the Gov- ernment has under-estimated the vital con- sideration of A.R.P. in relation to the conduct of diplomacy and defence, declared Mr. Her- bert Morrison in the House of Commons yester-sured him of the support of all of the Zionist leaders are now con- day.
parties and of local authorities in centrating there for the few critical the execution of his task in con- days before the expected publica- Mr. Morrison was initiating the Labour Opposi-nexion with Air Raid Precautions tion of the Palestine Commission's
tion's motion that the House express its "grave with vigour, determination and ca- concern at the admitted unpreparedness to protect the civilian population in September."
He also contended that the Government is con-
temptuously evading responsibility.
pacity.
Report.
But he expressed doubts whether It is now the universal belief Sir John would have the necessary that partition is not likely to form authority and executive powers. the basis of the British declaration Would he be able to go to the var- of policy. ious Ministries the Premier had
Therefore the Jewish leaders are listed on Tuesday as being con-doing their utmost to influence the He said that no Government had cerned in Air Raid Precautions and Government with a view to assur- competence and indecision, and ever been faced with so complicat-give orders and instructions there? ing that whatever policy is adopted
They had earned a record of in-
tried to sail out of their troubles ed and so vast a series of problems by appointing some new victim (Sir, as that raised by what is known John Anderson) to administer an as A.R.P.. imperfect policy for which the They covered the whole field Cabinet as a whole should be held national life. They did not end responsible.
no re-
What was wanted was shuffling of the Cabinet but a re- volution in mentality and the com- petence of the Government as a whole.
NO POLICY
gas masks, shelters and first posts.
NOT CONVINCED
the widest possible immigration will be allowed and Jews will not be relegated to a minority status.
ARAB LAWLESSNESS
In the meantime the Arabs are
Mr. Morrison said he was
not convinced that the new piece of of machinery would prove effective
unless the Lord Privy Seal had reported to be intensifying lawless- those executive powers and
was not only to preside over the Co- ordination committees of Ministers and Civil Servants.
in
aid
Reuter.
ness and are accentuating their in- flexible attitude, in order to im- 1,000,000 VOLUNTEERS
press the British Government that He admitted that since Sir Sam- the previous demands, including they will accept nothing less than They really covered every want of uel Hoare had been at the Home complete stoppage of Jewish im- national activity, and entered into Office, considerable progress had almost every one of the ordinary been made, but the general burden
migration. activities of the men and women of criticism. was that there had of the country.
Dealing with A.R.P. recruitment, which had discouraged both local Sir Samuel said: "It is a remark-authorities
and individual "volun- able fact that in peace time a teers. voluntary basis we have enlisted
BIG THING more than 1,000,000 men and WO-
Mr. Morrison alleged that when the crisis broke, the Government had no evacuation policy, and that the machinery for evacuation of children was the London County Council machinery.
He declared that Sir John Simon must be held responsible for the lack of an organisation centre. six months."
He was told there were sealed orders for the local authorities, to be opened by town clerks when a crisis began, (Laughter).
HORE-BELISHA'S “WAR *Benoni: MUSEUM"
·
on
been serious and avoidable delays SOUTH AFRICA AND
ABYSSINIA
in
Pretoria, To-day. The Italian conquest of Abyssinia men in the greater part of the last In these circumstances, it was, will be recognised by the South he thought, a very big thing to African Government when a new This compared favourably, he have obtained already one million Minister is appointed to Rome said, with recruitment for the Air Raid Precautions volunteers. succession to the present envoy," Kitchener Army during a period of Instancing deficiences in the who is retiring.--Reuter. twelve months.
supply of Air Raid Precautions equipment, including firefighting appliances and medical supplies,
ALLEGED PROFITEERING
London, To-day. December 27 will be a public
Mr. Morrison referred to the agita- holiday, announced the Chancellor Referring to charges of alleged tion in some quarters for compulf the Exchequer, Sir John Simon, There was more laughter when profiteering, Sir Samuel declared sory service, and said he could not in the House of Commons yester- Mr. Morrison descibed London's that cases of profiteering were ex-understand the purpose of advocat day. Reuter. anti-aircraft guns 88 "Hore- ceptional, He would see that no ing compulsory service when they Belisha's war museum.”:
contractor guilty of profiteering had been shown not to have near-Government had ever been faced Replying to the criticisms, the was eligible in future for a Gov-ly enough material, for the avail- with so complicated and vast a ser- Home Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, ernment contract.
able volunteers.
fies problems as was raised by Air defended the trench system which Sir Samuel pointed out that much He also criticised the inadequacy Raid Precautions. He claimed that he had initiated."
of the trench digging in London of the Government's action in the the system of Air Raid Precautions He declared he proposed to was carried out by London con-matter of evacuation of parts of already in existence in Britain com- inform local authorities that tractors at a prime cost.
the civil population. He urged pared favourably with that in any trenches, where properly sited,
There was an organisation in provision of adequate shelter for other country except Germany, should be completed and given a being under which the Government everyone despite the admittedly which had begun to prepare very permanent structure.
have representatives in war time in high cost. It was their duty to much earlier. Where it was found that the particular areas with a view to see-the country and the people to pro- trench system should be further ing that the executive orders of vide it. It was their duty to them- developed, the Government intend the central Government were carri-selves as representatives of the ed to develop them.
ed out with the least possible de- people in their conduct of foreign lay.
affairs and national defence...
SHELTER POLICY
Sir Samuel said the trench ays tem provided for 1,000,000 people over the whole country.”
In conclusion, the Home Secre tary said that this country could make as good a system of passivė defence as any in the world.
Reuter.
NATIONAL IMPORTANCE
AR:P. NEEDS
·
Dealing with personnel, Sir Sam- uel said that one of Sir John An- derson's principal duties would be to deal with the question of a Na- |tional Register and rational utill-
zat ɔn of national service. : Provision to minimise the effects The Home Office had reached the of air warfare and to restore the conclusion that there was a need confidence of the civil population, for nearly half a million trained was a matter of as much strategi-A.R.P. workers who would have to cal diplomatic and national impor-be paid whole-time in wartime, “We should provide blast proof Mr. Morrison disclaimed any in-tance as the needs of the active de- An important step, which would accommodation for every man, wo- tention to make party capital out fence services.
not be long delayed, would be mak- man and child in the country.
of the position, but, said that as Sir Samuel Hoare, who express-ing clear what categories of men “At’the-same time it is essentiat good citizens concerned with the ed his gratitude to Mr. Morrison and women - could volunteer ** for that exlating facilities be used safety and security of the people for the help the latter had given|A.R.P. work
rk secure fit the know- where: possible, and hence a con- the Labour Party were genuinely him in his capacity as Chairman ledge that their services would prehensive sunwayein now in pro and seriously worried about the of the Air Raid Precautions Com-Inot be required elsewhere In an
state of Air Raid Precautions. · mittee of the L.C.C., said that no emergency-British Wireless."
He added that in the future they must have a more comprehensive, shelter policy? :
gress.
GOOD CITIZENS
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