1939-08-25 — Page 43

THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 25, 1939.

NEW D.O.R.A.

D.O.R.A. BECOMES LAW

London, To-day.

The Emergency Powers (Defence) Bill, the new name for the famous De- fence of the Realm Act of the Great War, was rushed through all its stages in the House of Commons yesterday without a division and after only a brief discussion.

The Bill, after having passed the House of Lords, received the Royal Ássent and is now law.

Both Houses of Parliament adjourned until next Thursday.

Only vote take during yesterday's House of Commons session was on the pro- cedure motion, which was carried by the overwhelming majority of 427 votes to four.

The minority was the Independent Labour Party.

Reuter.

COMMONS IMPATIENT TO GET INTO ACTION GOVT. GIVES ASSURANCES

-

London, To-day.

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, which listened to the Prime Minister's state- ment in hushed attention and had displayed an undercurrent of impa- tience during the subsequent speeches, as though anxious to proceed with the business, formally gave the Emergency Powers (Defence) Bill its first reading.

The Home Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, immediately moved the second reading, recalling that he was one of the comparatively small number of members who remembered the introduction of the Defence of the Realm Bill in August, 1914.

"To leave a gap anywhere, in a situation of this kind may mean that your efforts may

be frus. trated and that the country may be faced with a danger the im- portance of which cannot exaggerated.

He regretted that once again a Home Secretary had to ask drastic and very comprehensive.

for nowers which trenched unon many of the most cher- ished liberties of his fellow citizens, but added: "To-day we are faced with such a situation that there is no alternative open to me. I come to the House to say that the powers included in this Bill are not only as essen- tial as in 1914 but are ten times more essential than in those days.

"In 1914 war was still a slow mo- national affairs, in which it is essen- tion tragedy. Since then, the speed | tial that any British Government with which warlike acts are carried must be armed with emergency out in the world adds to the per- plexities and problems.

"That speed creates a danger which for the first time confronts this loland as a result of the great development of aviation. "There is now a twilight between peace and war, perhaps the most dangerous of

any period

powers.

WIDE, DRASTIC

"On that account, whilst we still hope that the final catastrophe may be averted, it is essential from to-day onwards that we should have at our disposal the powers set out in the Bill.

in inter- "These powers are very wide, very

..

COMMONSENSE

be

powers

"Whilst on one hand the

definite, I give the House an under- asked for are wide, flexible and in- taking that we will still apply them with moderation, toleration and com-

monsense.

"It is of the utmost importance that the Bill should become law to-day. We should not. propose In the course of a few hours, un- less the situation should become much worse, Issuing great codes, of new regülations. "What we should do would be to

LABOUR AND LIBERAL PARTIES GIVE UNRESERVED

London, To-day.

SUPPORT

will be